English
Italiano
Did you think that Ducati, which recently unveiled the new Panigale V4S 2025, was the highest performing supersport bike on the motorcycle scene? Well, before we say that, let's wait to see Aprilia's latest 'X' series in Misano.
For the time being, it has no other name than that of the RSV-4 special series solely intended for the track, one of which we know is in the robust hands of Max Biaggi.
The special feature of the bike in question (but they say this at Borgo Panigale as well) is that it has a very close connection with MotoGP. The Noale manufacturer, however, has moved the bar a whisker further and what we will soon see will be the only motorcycle on the market with a ground effect fairing, an Aprilia patent.
If, at this point, you were expecting some photos, however, you will be disappointed: you have to trust only the description of your reporter who had the pleasure of admiring it in an augmented graphic animation of the CareAR company thanks to the use of Apple Vision Pro glasses.
Since your scribe is nearsighted, however, and Aprilia is a bit sadistic and a bespectacled reporter was not expected the view was a tad blurry, but not enough to keep us from discovering a fairing - white for the moment, but at Noale they promise a spectacular livery - very similar to that of the RS-GP, which means with 'coffered' belly-pans, that is, that particular confirmation of the fairing that, once near the ground, causes an acceleration of the air resulting in a Venturi effect, leading to a downforce effect.
For lovers of spoilers - we all know you criticize their aesthetics, but at the bar they have a devastating effect -this 'X' also has a huge spoiler in the front part of the fairing, really very similar to the first version of the RS-GP.
In short, aesthetically at least, it has all the right gear, to allow us to eliminate those 20 seconds (plenty) that separate us, on any track, let's not say from the champions, but from the real racers.
Powering this thing, to call them motorcycles by now is reductive, will be the proven four-cylinder V-cylinder that Biaggi rode to two world titles, with APX ECU, and we will soon provide you with more details and a complete data sheet.
We do not know if the Roman Emperor has already tested it. A small clue is that recently the 6-time world champion was seen riding at Laguna Seca together with Joe Roberts, but we dare not write that he was riding the 'X'-Wings, we add at this point.
Well we enclose a few photos of CEO Massimo Rivola, Vera Spadini, Max Biaggi, Matteo Aglio and even your oldest member of the club struggling with the Apple Vision Pro (cost of the glasses alone: €3,500). Belonging to the boomer generation, we didn't think we would ever get to see a 'virtual' motorcycle.
Just to offer an additional insight: we were able to see beyond the fairing and the tank. For example, we 'dived in' until we discovered that the cylinders and heads were missing. But we could not touch anything, although the image, virtually, was editable.
When it comes to pleasure, however, we remain proudly and strictly analog. We like to touch.
