The new Aprilia duo’s first contact with the RS-GP was positive, but Ramón Forcada said that, even so, this first approach to a new bike doesn’t mean much because ‘the bike is built in winter’.
After pointing out that the new world champion might have some difficulties, in the Duralavita podcast, since Fabiano Sterlacchini – Aprilia’s new technical director – doesn’t know the bike in depth in the same way as Romano Albesiano, now at Honda, the truth is that the version the #89 used in the Barcelona tests is probably far from the one he’ll be using in 2025.
The former MotoGP mechanic, who has many years’ experience with many renowned riders, recalled that the bike the Spaniard tested will undergo changes: ‘In the first practice you try a few things, but in the end nobody tries the definitive bike, because it’s built during the winter’.
Forcada recalled the words of another former world champion to illustrate what he meant: ‘As Joan Mir said: «We’ve tried everything we’ve ever tried, now we have to put it all together», which doesn’t always add up, because sometimes what you lose on one side is more than what you gain on the other,’ he said.
Note that Martín’s first feedback is that the RS-GP has some difficulty putting all the power to the floor, especially on corner exits, which is why winter development is crucial and based on driver feedback.
By: AM