Aprilia 'ready for next test' after Misano shakedown

Aprilia's first testing laps since the coronavirus lockdown saw Bradley Smith, Lorenzo Savadori and Max Biaggi on track at Misano last week.

The two-day outing was interrupted by rain, but Smith was able to complete a shakedown check for each of the RS-GPs, which had been rebuilt since the end of the Qatar MotoGP test on February 24.

Aprilia told Crash.net that the bikes are thus 'ready for the next test in Misano' when newly re-signed team leader Aleix Espargaro will join Smith on track from June 23-25. The other European manufacturers, KTM and Ducati, are also expected to be present as preparations continue for MotoGP's delayed season-opener at Jerez in July.

With Smith potentially set for a race rider role this season, pending the outcome of Andrea Iannone's CAS appeal, Savadori has been recruited to help with Aprilia MotoGP testing duties.

Savadori, who made his RS-GP debut at January's Sepang outing, was testing the RSV4 1100 for the Italian Superbike Championship on the opening day at Misano, before getting more laps on the 2019-spec MotoGP bike during day two.

Biaggi meanwhile took to the track on his RSV4 X, before the rain arrived on day one.

Aprilia said the Roman Emperor was riding the limited edition 225hp/165kg machine just for fun at Misano, but that the feedback provided by the retired four-time 250cc world champion and double World Superbike champion is always welcome.

Aprilia thus joins fellow concession manufacturer KTM in having completed a private MotoGP test since the end of the coronavirus 'lockdown'.