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Aprilia Makes Efforts for MotoGP Comeback, Kawasaki Doesn't

2016 may see the MotoGP grid receiving a new manufacturer fielding a factory-like machine in the Open class, and you’ve [probably guessed it’s going to be Aprilia.
Aprilia RSV4 R ABS 1 photo
Photo: Aprilia
Even though the Italian manufacturer lost a key member of the crew, in the person of Gigi Dall’Igna who went to Ducati to restore order and glory in the Reparto Corse department, Aprilia brought in Romano Albesiano to continue working on the “factory-open” bike. (Truth be told, I can’t seem to find a decent name for such entries).

Aprilia was present at the test in Jerez alongside Ducati, and had riders Alex Hoffman and Danilo Petrucci testing the machines which are alleged to be entered under the Open option specs. Albesiano is not as famous as Dall’Igna, but he seems determined to have a MotoGP-spec all-Aprilia bike ready for 2015. The current bike serves for as a testing machine for porting the Marelli software on the spec ECU, but Aprilia intends to build a completely new prototype in early 2015 for the prospected 2016 comeback on the MotoGP grid.

On the other hand, the other manufacturer which was part of the premier class until several years ago, Kawasaki, doesn’t seem too preoccupied with the series. In an interview with Speedweek, Guim Roda, Kawasaki Provec WSBK team manager said that the factory could think about a strategy for the future and present it to Tom Sykes, but in this moment, such a strategy is absent.

Even more, Roda added that Kawasaki has no long-term plans for a comeback, and in case Tom receives an offer from a serious MotoGP team, the house of Akashi can only be happy for him. If he’s looking for a MotoGP seat, Kawasaki cannot provide him with one, unfortunately.

Via gp-inside
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