From a press release issued by Aprilia Racing Information:

Open Day at Noale

Saturday 14 December 2002

Five thousand people in Noale for Aprilia’s “Porte Aperte”



Aprilia’s four titles in the MotoGP championships – all in the same 2002 season – were celebrated today in a highly original fashion. The doors of the Aprilia plant in Scorzè were thrown open to the public, as were those of the Racing Department headquarters and of the Research and Development centre in Noale. The population of Noale, all the employees and their families, schools and institutions were able to visit the nerve centres of Aprilia research and production. Doing the honours was the President of the Aprilia Group himself, Ing. Ivano Beggio. Everyone was able to admire and get a close look at where Aprilia motorcycling technology is actually created. Five thousand people, including several school groups from other regions of Italy, came to the event. The main attraction of the day was the meeting with Marco Melandri, recently hailed as the world champion in the 250 class on his works Aprilia RSW 250, a gem of technology and power from the Racing Department in Noale.



Today’s event celebrated an all-time record for Aprilia, which this year came away with no fewer than 4 world titles: two Manufacturers’ Championships (125 Class and 250), and two Riders’ Championships (Marco Melandri, 250 Class, and Arnaud Vincent, 125 Class). Four extraordinary victories that takes the number of world championships won by Aprilia up to 21.



A well-deserved award and fitting recognition of the all-Italian technological research and passion that has always been the hallmark of Aprilia in the world of motorcycle racing.