At the recent three-day MotoGP test at Sepang, Aprilia’s newly appointed technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini expressed a pleasant surprise at the deep technical knowledge demonstrated by factory rider Marco Bezzecchi. Both joined Aprilia at the end of last season and have been working closely together on the development of the 2025 Aprilia bike.
A Pleasant Surprise on Technical Fronts
Sterlacchini admitted that while he initially saw Bezzecchi as extremely talented on the track, he did not expect him to be as technically savvy as he turned out to be.
“From the outside, I had the impression that Marco was super-talented but not so technical. It has been a good surprise!”
He highlighted the meticulous work they are doing on the bike’s hardware configurations, noting that the team is establishing repeatable processes to gather consistent statistical data for each component tested.
Adapting to Unforeseen Challenges
The test session faced disruption when riders Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez sustained injuries just a few laps into the session. This forced the team to rapidly adjust their testing plans.
“This is one of the problems, the difficult part of our job. We are adapting, day by day, based on the results of our test items. We have slots for each item, and we will respect them,” Sterlacchini explained.
Maximizing Engine Power and Enhancing Performance
Bezzecchi has already noted the impressive power of the Aprilia engine, but raised questions about how best to harness it fully. Sterlacchini emphasized the need to fine-tune every aspect of the bike—especially the electronics and rear tyre performance—to enable the rider to push the machine to its limits.
“The electronics are like a black box. The engine will deliver the power that the electronics request. We must touch every point of the bike.”
Furthermore, Sterlacchini acknowledged that one of the bike’s current weaknesses is its starting performance—a critical factor in a sport where gaining early track position is key.
“The start is an important point for performance. The new generation of MotoGP, with its focus on aero and power, requires a strong start. We are delegating different tasks to ensure we improve this area.”
Leveraging Experience for a Competitive Edge
Drawing on his extensive experience with top teams like Ducati and KTM, Sterlacchini is optimistic about Aprilia’s future. He recognizes that reducing the performance gap to the dominant Ducatis is a tough challenge, but he is confident that the team’s human resources and technical expertise will drive improvements.
“We are absolutely in a good situation. There is always room for improvement, and we have a lot of material from the company, along with in-house innovations, particularly in our electronics.”
As Aprilia heads into further testing at Buriram next week, the collaboration between Sterlacchini and Bezzecchi is expected to play a crucial role in finalizing a competitive race package for the 2025 season. With the goal of overcoming current challenges and closing the gap to the top teams, Aprilia aims for a strong start when the season begins.
