From a press release:

Aprilia Racing Press Information
Jerez de La Frontera (Spain)
24 January 2002

Aprilia RS Cube: the day of the great debut.

For the first time, its heart started pounding outside the Racing Department in Noale. At 1:30h today, three cylinders shot up to heat for the first time as 6,000 revs took it up to the perfect temperature. Shortly after the second ignition, its roar finally thundered out: powerful and deep enough to switch the heartbeat of those nearby to a very different frequency. At 2:14h, the RS Cube gripped the asphalt of a world championship track for the first time. Marcellino Lucchi, the Racing Department’s official test rider, took it out on its first sortie – what the techies call the “installation lap”. And this is where the Italian Challenge began.

With emotion at fever pitch, many of those at the trackside had never imagined the number of decibels this futuristic machine could release. A further three laps followed by another set-up, and then work started in earnest with the assistance of an RSV Mille “4-stroke Lab” all ready to test a number of components for the Cube. In a few days’ time, Regis Laconi will be making his debut on the experimental RS3.

Jan Witteveen has no intention of hiding his emotion about his brainchild, the 4-stroke MotoGP: “This is a red-letter day in the history of Aprilia. It’s a gigantic step towards a new era, a new technology. We’re going to be under intense and exciting pressure over the next few days: this is the first phase, in which we’ll be doing all the track tests on the project and we’ll be learning how to prepare for the future. It’s thrilling to have this project on the circuit at last -but I can’t help thinking of all the work that’s piling up back ‘home’. Even so, I couldn’t think of missing the debut. Sure, we’re not here in Jerez just to get the fastest lap time: we’re aiming to get the all-round competitiveness we need. From now on we can only go up.”

Track tests on the RS Cube went on into the evening with a close-packed programme of sorties and pit-stops to make the necessary adjustments. Marcellino Lucchi, just off his first ride, gave his initial impressions: “There are two decidedly different aspects: one is emotional, the other technical. It was heart-stirring to put Aprilia’s latest creation through its first trials: I’d seen it on the test bench in the Department but today I was able to take it out on its very first laps. No other motorcycle in the last ten years has given me such a kick: there’s no doubt you’re riding a concentration of advanced technology. My initial impression, however, is that it’s easy to ride and that it’s got fantastic potential – I’m not up to 100% by any means yet. This is a bike I want to get to grips with and learn how to squeeze the most out of.”

Tests will continue tomorrow and the day after. Today’s trials took place on a dry track, in spite of yesterday’s heavy downpour. The weather looks as though it is going to stay fine for the next few days.

The photos below were issued by Aprilia’s press department following the test session at Jerez.