FIRST LOOK: Aprilia 'a-Team' unwrap 2023 colours for Espargaro, Vinales

The Italian factory is looking to continue momentum from a breakthrough 2022 campaign, which saw a debut MotoGP win and title challenge from Aleix Espargaro, while team-mate Maverick Vinales contributed three of the team’s nine podiums.

The 2023 colours - which continue the black base, with white and red details of last year - were unveiled at Portimao alongside an amusing launch video based on famous TV show 'The A-Team'!

The 'A' was changed to 'a', matching the Aprilia logo, with riders and team members presented in the video with the same style as the US show's distinctive intro!

"The expectations are higher after last season’s performance. I can't wait to see how far we can go," said Espargaro.

"Being with Aprilia for such a long time puts a certain amount of pressure on me because I know how important results are for this company. At the same time, maturity and the fact that I know the people I work with well give me peace of mind.

"The 2023 championship season will begin with plenty of unknowns. The new format with the Sprint Race on Saturday will demand even more preparation of us riders but no one can truly assess the actual impact of this change yet. I have prepared to my best ability and I am confident that we will have fun again this year."

"This year I feel much more at one with the bike, which is easier to ride for me," Vinales added. "Then with my new crew chief Manu [from Suzuki] and some other guys we can complete a good circle.

"I liked the new RS-GP straight away. It has improved in aspects, such as early throttle opening management, which are fundamental for my riding style. I like the new weekend format. It will be interesting both for the fans and for the teams which will have a chance to prepare for the Sunday race using the Sprint Race. I can't wait to get started. The break was refreshing, but now I just want to get back out on the track!"

Aprilia is the final manufacturer to reveal this year's MotoGP livery after previous launches by the official Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and KTM/GASGAS teams. The only remaining launch is by RNF, Aprilia's new satellite team, which will unveil its colours on March 16.

• Five key questions at MotoGP Portimao test
• Keith Huewen: MotoGP in ten years’ time? Hopefully not electric!
• Bezzecchi: First MotoGP victory ‘only target’, factory Ducati ‘hope’

Last season's surge propelled Aprilia from last in the constructors’ standings in previous years, to third place behind Ducati and Yamaha, while Espargaro rose from eighth to fourth in the riders’ championship.

But it could easily have been even better.

Despite a miserable time in the flyaway races, Espargaro remained in mathematical MotoGP title contention until the penultimate round.

However, the team’s heart-breaking double technical DNF at the Valencia finale not only stripped Espargaro of third in the riders’ standings (to Enea Bastianini) but cost Aprilia second place (behind Ducati) in both the constructors’ and teams’ championships.

It was a bitter pill to swallow but Aprilia began this year with a strong Sepang test in February, where nine-time MotoGP race winner Vinales (third) and Espargaro (fifth) were the only non-Ducati riders in the top nine.

Last year’s success means Aprilia has lost technical concessions but they will now be armed with extra data from the new satellite partnership with RNF, where Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez will race 2022-spec bikes.

"Our growth is undeniable, as is how rapidly we improved," said Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola. "It is a path that did not come about by chance. We are a better company from every point of view, so I expect this trend to continue. Our challenge will now increase with the further responsibility of a satellite team which, while on one hand will allow us to have much more information available, will also be an important test bench for our organisational and analytical ability... Goals? To do better than last year."

"The technical situation will be new for us, also having a second team to support and from which to be able to draw important information," added technical director Romano Albesiano. "The race weekends will also bring some changes, with the introduction of the Sprint Race which will demand a specific approach. Every detail of the new RS-GP is an evolution of the 2022 concept, with a numerical improvement of all the main aspects and the development programme anticipates further refinements throughout the season."