The 2018 season is far from over, but attentions are already turning towards the start of the 2019 season and the official two-day Valencia test that will take place on November 20th and 21st.
For Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, the test provides the first opportunity for them to have Andrea Iannone on board the RS-GP as the Italian makes the switch from Suzuki at the end of the 2018 season. But will a 2019 prototype be available to the Italian, Aleix Espargaro and test rider Bradley Smith?
“The Misano test was really interesting. We tried last year’s bike to confirms some ideas: the feelings on the bike were good, but we’re going to work in another direction,” said Albesiano to Simon Crafar during MotoGP™ FP1 in Aragon. “In Valencia, we will have a prototype of the 2019 bike for Andrea and Aleix. Bradley will also be at the test.”
Albesiano also hinted that Fabrizio Cecchini, the former chief mechanic at Del Conca Gresini Moto3, will become Iannone's chief mechanic in 2019: “We would like him to be, we’ll see… but it could be possible, it’s the same family.”