The Aprilia range boasts top-level technological equipment, a refined brand complete with control systems directly derived from SBK technology
BRAND HISTORY
A small bicycle factory based in Noale: in 1954, Aprilia was born by the will of Cavalier Alberto Beggio. In the early 60s, production moved towards motorcycles with the "Sport Man". The Knight comes into conflict with his son because of the different corporate visions: on the one hand, the father, with a traditionalist mentality while, on the other, the son with entrepreneurial ideas aimed at young people and the future. Ivano took the helm in 1967, starting the journey that led the Venetian company to become the sporting icon of the Piaggio Group.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
Aprilia has always been linked to motorcycle racing. There are 54 World Championships that it boasts in its palmarès (including MotoGP, SBK, Supermotard and Trial) and 294 Grands Prix won in MotoGP, holding the record for victories among European manufacturers in history
of the maximum motorcycling competition. Instead, there are 41 victories in Superbike and 89 podiums conquered. In 2004 Aprilia became part of the Piaggio Group which has contributed to broadening the horizons of sporting activity by reorganizing the Racing Department and returning to being present in off-road competitions and, since 2009, in the SBK world championship. In the period from 60 to 70, Aprilia moved towards a 50 cc cross bike which would evolve into 125 cc and which
it will serve as a development basis for the cross competitions of the early 70s. From here begins the rise of the Noale-based company which in 1975 makes its entry into the World Championship where it attempts the assault on the Japanese in the hard-fought 250 class. To celebrate the first noteworthy placings, however, we have to wait for 1985 when Loris Reggiani finishes 12th ° in Kyalami, South Africa, riding the first bike with double beam frame in aluminum alloy, Marzocchi fork and pro-lever type rear shock absorber. The engine is a Rotax twin-cylinder and, after various refinements, will give Reggiani his first podium in Rijeka (3rd position) and then in Imola. On 30 August 1987 Loris and his Aprilia AF1 250 took their first victory in a GP; in 1988 however, at his debut in the 125 class, his first victory at the GP of France. The turning point, in the name of the models and in the results, began in the 90s when the Aprilia RS250V was born with which Reggiani and Chili achieved their first successes respectively at Assen and at Paul Ricard; the European - in the meantime - was conquered by Max Biaggi whose name will forever be synonymous with Aprilia. In 1992 the first title in the 125 cc world championship arrives with Alex Gramigni; after two years at the top but without striking results, the apotheosis: Max Biaggi is world champion in 250 cc, Kazuto Sakata repeats the result in 125 cc and Reggiani makes his debut in 500 riding an innovative twin-cylinder. Max obtains the title also the following year while Sakata will get on the second step of the podium; Reggiani will close the World Championship in 10th place ahead of numerous four-cylinder bikes from official teams. In '96, Biaggi is champion for the third consecutive time and arrives at the constructors' title in 125 cc; the following year it was the rider and constructor world titles, but with the new Aprilia hero named Valentino Rossi who won 11 wins out of 15 races. In 1988 Loris Capirossi earned the riders' title by winning 14 out of 15 races, confirming the superiority of the RS250 which filled all the steps of the podium 4 times, again winning the constructors' title. In 125 cc however, it is still Sakata who takes home the title of world champion. 1999 is still the year of Rossi who conquers the 250 cc astride the RSW twin-cylinder with which he wins 9 races; the results obtained by Aprilia customers are also significant. The RSV Mille enters the SBK world championship in the same year. From 2000 and for the following ten years, Aprilia shone in its own light with riders of the caliber of Troy Corser in SBK and Roberto Locatelli, 125 cc world champion; in 2002 double riders' title with Marco Melandri in 250 and Arnaud Vincent in 125 and as many constructors' titles. In the newborn class MotoGp Aprilia fields the RS Cube powered by a 3-cylinder engine. In 2003 the pre-acquisition cycle of the Piaggio Group ended with Manuel Poggiali world champion pilots in the quarter-litre class. From 2006 to 2008 the world titles arrive with Lorenzo (250), Bautista (125) and Van Den Bosch (S2). In 2009 the joint project of the launch of the road RSV4 and the return to Superbike of Max Biaggi astride the new born of the Noale-based company with which he will obtain the title of SBK World Champion in 2010 starts. Again in 2011 Chareyre world title in Supermotard S1 on Aprilia 4.5, SBK title in 2012 with Biaggi and in 2014 with Guintoli; in 2015 he returned to MotoGP and won the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with Lorenzo Salvadori.
ICONIC MODELS
Ivano Beggio's Aprilia gives birth to the first models immediately after taking over the role of the father: here are the birth of the Colibrì, the Daniela and the Packi. In 1970 the Scarabeo arrived, the first off-road vehicle produced in 50 and 125 cc versions. This was followed by the first road-going Hiro engine, the ST 125 which gave way to the STX in 1984. Hence the development of the historic 125 road-going AF1 (Sintesi, Futura RS Extrema) which were followed by the Touareg, the RX and the Pegaso. In the 90s, Aprilia was the RS50, 125 with Rotax engine and the RS250; followed by the RSV1000 and the Caponord. Today the RSV4 and Tuono V4 represent the apotheosis of Aprilia evolution.
