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Motorsport

Sport

Tech analysis: The secrets behind Aprilia’s 2025 MotoGP bike

Aprilia Aprilia Racing MotoGP Jorge Martin Marco Bezzecchi Fabiano Sterlacchini Sky Aleix Espargaro Maverick Vinales Milan

Aprilia kicked off its 2025 MotoGP campaign with a special launch event at the Sky studios in Milan last week. Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi made their first appearance in Aprilia gear during the ceremony, while new technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini was also in attendance.

The Noale-based brand also showcased the latest version of its MotoGP bike on stage and the event was broadcast live around the world. Interestingly, the RS-GP25, as it is called, was not hidden from view immediately after the reveal, with Aprilia allowing those present a rare opportunity to photograph every detail of the bike.

The 2025-spec RS-GP is not an absolute novelty because the bike was already seen in public during the Barcelona test in November. Both reigning champion Martin and three-time grand prix winner Bezzecchi were able to get their first taste of the new Aprilia in the official Dorna test, and their feedback made it clear that it was much better than the version raced by Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales last season.

The two bike frames showcased at the Milan launch last Thursday will now be used in the 2025 season. Over the winter break, Aprilia managed to bring in several updates, and the bike shown in Italy is already different to the one Martin and Bezzecchi tested in Barcelona just over two months ago.

Bike of Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing (Photo by: Aprilia Racing)

At the front of the new RS-GP, the shape of the wing has changed, the result of the work put in by Aprilia in the wind tunnel. The aim is to guarantee the same load but with less resistance. The biplane remains in place but is now more arched and with more pronounced holes in the middle. Interestingly, the upper attachment to the fairing seen on the 2024 model is now missing.

The new wing works in synergy with the fork wing, which is now separated from the fork itself. The overall design is increasingly functional in generating vortices that will be directed to the rider's body.

Lower down, under the Brembo brake calliper, the presence of an air conveyor has been confirmed. This serves an essential function when the bike is being leaned to the side.

The RS-GP continues to feature a Formula 1-inspired S-duct that Aprilia. But while the upper air vent has always been visible on the sides of the fairing, the same cannot be said for the air intake, which is a new addition to the bike.

Aprilia RSGP-25 detail (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

Another interesting aspect is the ‘butterfly’ that is placed under the oil radiator in the V-shaped cradle of the chassis: the cooled air is drawn from the upper part of the front wheel and then channelled downwards. The carbon device is a vessel that is usually used to collect fresh air, but now it is also used for aerodynamic purposes. It is a part that could change already by the time pre-season testing begins in February.

The 'butterfly' brings fresh air to the oil radiator, but also serves an aerodynamic function in 2025 (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

Aprilia has always had an innovative approach to aerodynamics thanks to the extensive experience of ex-Ferrari engineer Marco De Luca, but this time it seems to be following Ducati’s approach towards diffusers on the sides of the fairings. However, while on the Desmosedici, which could be seen outside the fairing, the same element blows inside on the Aprilia.

The fairing step with a raised vertical edge (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

The fairing shows the now well-known step layout that is bordered at the lateral trailing edge by a vertical profile that turns towards the front of the winglet. The shape of the fairing in the lower part has been taken care of in order to ensure maximum downforce when the bike is at a lean angle. With this, Aprilia is attempting to design an effective Venturi channel.

The air vents move the heat away from the rider as much as possible (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

Modern MotoGP bikes have become heat generators and the riders are subjected to very hot air during the race. It’s a problem that has particularly affected Aprilia riders in recent years, and it’s something that can affect their performance. Aware of the need to protect the riders as much as possible, the technicians have made changes to the way the bike extracts heat.

The carbon air ducts cool the upper exhaust (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

On the new RS-GP, one can see the five-element grille that directs the hot air downwards, in an attempt to move the heat as far away as possible from the rider's body.

Another detail that didn't escape attention is a carbon handkerchief that looks like reinforcement but is in fact a duct that draws fresh air and channels it to two important points: the right one cools the exhaust, while the left one helps keep the fuel cool in the tank located much further back on the bike.

Moving towards the rear, one can see the work undertaken to clean up the low exhaust area and the swingarm that is surmounted by a vertical carbon fibre pad. Last year this was even bigger, but now it has been optimised.

Looking from above one can recognise a real wing profile on the rear of the bike. This could be useful in improving efficiency by reducing drag.

Two wings on the tail (Photo by: Franco Nugnes)

The tail, suitably cooled with two air intakes, features two vertical fins that have different functions depending on the posture of the rider leaning to one side or the other. This is an area destined to see some innovations, much like the rear diffuser.

Espargaro and Vinales had rejected this development, but given they were from a previous generation, they were less inclined to accept the aerodynamic ‘devilries’ that Aprilia was able to produce.

Martin and Bezzecchi, on the contrary, are likely to exploit more extreme solutions that perhaps will require an adaptation to the riding style in exchange for improved performance.

The RS-GP seen in Milan is a bike optimised to make it more calm, as Fabiano Sterlacchini summarised, compared to a very sincere front-end but a more nervous feeling on the remainder of the bike. But once the balance that the riders are looking for is found, one can expect more daring ideas and concepts. If not, Ducati will remain out of reach for its homegrown rival…