SMITH VERSUS SAVADORI FOR 2021 APRILIA RIDE

Bradley Smith vs Lorenzo Savadori for 2021 Aprilia ride – Photo: LAT

Factory MotoGP squad Aprilia has announced that its current test riders Bradley Smith and Lorenzo Savadori have been retained for the 2021 season with one set to race full-time in 2021.

By DAN McCARTHY

The vacant Aprilia seat alongside Aleix Espargaro was set to be filled by the returning Andrea Iannone, however the Italian lost an appeal against a doping suspension and has been dealt a further three year ban.

Aprilia approached MotoGP race winners Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow about taking the ride if Iannone could not fill the seat, but both declined.

The Noale factory then contacted Moto2 rider Marco Bezzecchi, however the VR46 team was unwilling to let him go.

Running out of options the Italian manufacturer spoke to several other Moto2 riders including Joe Roberts, however all were unwilling to make the step as they felt they were not ready for the huge step.

As a result, Aprilia has announced that Savadori and Smith will be Aprilia riders in 2021 with one making the step up to the main rider role.

Smith filled the seat vacated by Iannone for 11 of the 14 rounds this season, while Savadori participated in the final three events.

“It’s no secret that we offered three young riders an opportunity because we felt that our project could be very interesting for talented young riders,” Massimo Rivola Aprilia Racing CEO.

“But they did not yet feel ready for the leap and at the same time, the teams that have already signed them for the 2021 season preferred to keep them. We respectfully acknowledge their decision.

“We prefer to continue with our riders, rather than choosing solutions that are still open but about which we are not entirely convinced.

“Even in the difficult conditions of this season, particularly penalising for a fledgling project, the bike improved greatly and significantly reduced the gaps both in the races and in practice on basically all the circuits.”

Aprilia has remained loyal to Iannone throughout the doping ordeal, however this has compromised its lead up to the 2021 season.

Main rider Espargaro ended the season with the teams only top 10 finishes of the season, a ninth in the penultimate race at Valencia an eighth to conclude the campaign in Portugal.

Rivola noted that the other two riders also impressed throughout the season in different ways.

“Aleix finished on a high note and was lapping with the same times as the leaders,” Rivola said.

“Lorenzo has also shown significant progress in just three races and we know that we can count on Bradley’s professionalism and experience.

“Aleix will obviously be our top rider. The roles of second rider and test rider will be decided at the end of the winter test schedule.”

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