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Rivola: "Aprilia doesn't care about the current SBK, it's a B series MotoGP."

"We will enter only when the regulations are changed. It's absurd that production-derived bikes are faster than prototypes, they should follow the Superstock regulations."

MotoGP: Rivola:

Dorna has never hidden the fact that one of its current dreams would be to have Aprilia back in SBK, but even if it wanted to, it would be difficult for the Noale manufacturer to make a comeback anytime soon because of the incompatibility of the current bikes with the current regulations. A topic, that of regulations, which is particularly dear to CEO Massimo Rivola who, speaking to the website Speedweek.com, did not hide his disappointment with now-defined rules that from 2027 to 2031 will make MotoGP bikes less fast than production-based machines.

"In my opinion making our bikes too slow is not very smart. Prototypes cannot be less performing than Superbikes," he complained, criticizing the direction taken by the promoter. Another broadside was directed precisely at the production-based series bikes, which are now more sophisticated and less close to the bikes anyone can find at the dealership.

"The only future I can imagine for the series is related to the Superstock regulations. They should then simply remove the turn signals and rear-view mirrors and race that way, keeping the designation. This is the message that any manufacturer wants to send, as it allows them to sell," he argued.

Intervention, in his view, should also address spending. "It would be necessary to establish a ceiling on costs because it is ridiculous to allow 45,000 euro motorcycles to compete against 25,000 euro ones. Currently we are not interested in racing in SBK as it looks like a B championship of MotoGP. As soon as a proper regulation is adopted, we will be very happy to participate," he then made the brand's position clear.

What is certain, however, is that today the RSV4 Factory 1100 could not enter a series that allows only four-cylinder 1000 cc bikes to enter. "We have homologated the 1100 for endurance as we believe it is a profitable category," he concluded.

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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