MOTOGP – APRILIA TACKLES THE ICONIC SILVERSTONE? TRACK
ALVARO BAUTISTA: “TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MISANO TESTS”?
STEFAN BRADL: “FLOWING TRACK, A GOOD FIT FOR OUR SETTINGS”
A charming and historical track will host round 12 on the 2016 MotoGP calendar. The Silverstone circuit, a former RAF military airstrip and the first track to host a Formula 1 race, has various points of interest. Fast and flowing, it always provides spectacular races, attracting large and enthusiastic crowds. The unpredictable weather conditions also add another variable.
The Aprilia RS-GP machines ridden by Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista arrive in the United Kingdom after the Misano tests, where both riders continued the development programme. Some of the solutions used on the Italian track are ready to be implemented at Silverstone.
Both the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders like the layout of the English circuit. Last year, Alvaro Bautista took one of his best race results right here on the fast corners of Silverstone, with a tenth place finish.
ROMANO ALBESIANO – APRILIA RACING MANAGER
“Silverstone is definitely a complex track where, in any case, both Alvaro and Stefan demonstrated good race performance last year, despite the wet conditions. We are arriving here after the Misano tests that were rather important, with many parts tested and a further push forward in our continuous development process on the RS-GP. In England we will have some chassis upgrades and a modified gearbox with neutral lock, whereas after Brno we did an in depth analysis of traction control operation, improving reactions in situations where the grip condition varies during the race”.
FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER
“In the last two races we did not reap much, although we actually worked quite hard. We are putting forth a lot of effort with great dedication and, in fact, right after Brno we went to Misano where we conducted tests both with the two factory riders and with the test team. Aprilia is increasing efforts toward the goal of making further progress and obviously, we are seeking to accompany them down this path. We are coming to Silverstone ready for battle. We need a good result and we will give 100% in order to achieve it because it would be a great confidence booster in view of the important upcoming home round at Misano”.
ALVARO BAUTISTA
“I like Silverstone a lot. It is a fun ride. The weather is crucial here. It can change from one moment to the next between rain and sunny skies, so it is a factor that must be watched. After the Misano tests I think we will be able to implement some new ideas on the track, taking the best advantage of the tests. I hope to have a good weekend, working well in every session. Having top-10 potential on race day would be a great result for us”.
STEFAN BRADL
“We expect a demanding weekend, but one that we are tackling after the good tests conducted at Misano. We have a lot of material to confirm on a new track. I think that some of the things used in the tests will be useful for us. I would like to have stable weather conditions so we can continue this development effort. The track is fast and flowing. It should suit be a good fit for our settings that usually perform well on this type of layout”.