APRILIA RE-SIGN FACTORY RIDERS
Aprilia Racing has re-signed factory riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales on two-year deals, keeping them at the MotoGP World Championship team until at least the end of 2024.
Vinales has been a MotoGP frontrunner since making the step up from Moto2 in 2015, scoring nine race victories in his time in the top tier.
The last couple of seasons have not been so easy for the Spanish rider, who sits 13th in the 2022 standings after making a mid-season switch to Aprilia in 2021.
Espargaro has risen from the midfield to become a championship contender this campaign, chalking up a win and three podiums on the way to second position after seven rounds.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 32-year-old, who has not finished higher than seventh in his MotoGP career.
“This confirmation was just what the doctor ordered,” Espargaro said.
“We’ve worked hard together and grown together. We were a hope, now we are reality.
“In 2021 we had already seen clear signs of our steps forward and now we are able to battle consistently with the best in the world.
“Continuing to do so with Aprilia is a source of pride for me. We can grow even more and we want to demonstrate that on the track.”
Vinales was also thrilled to extend his time at Aprilia, after contract dramas marred his 2021 campaign.
“I’m extremely happy to continue my work with Aprilia Racing,” Vinales said.
“Now our horizons are expanding and we’ll be able to work with continuity to achieve ambitious goals. I believe in this project and I’m happy to be part of it.
“I’ve found a fantastic environment in Aprilia and this confirmation gives me the peace of mind to grow the way this team and I deserve to.”
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola was confident that a consistent rider line-up would help to bring success in the future.
“All the good we are doing this season is the fruit of many components, certainly the value of our designers and our technicians led by Romano Albesiano, the overall growth of our racing department and, in large part, the synergy that our Captain Aleix has skilfully built with the bike and with the team,” Rivola said.
“So, we set the goal of continuing along these lines, both with Aleix and with Maverick, and I am pleased with these confirmations today.
“We still need to grow a lot and now we have the peace of mind to do so.”
MotoGP descends on Italy this weekend for the eighth round of 2022.
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