Motociclismo: Aprilia’s Dall’Igna dismisses pneumatic valve rumours

While speaking with Motociclismo magazine, Aprilia Racing Technical and Sport Director Gigi Dall’Igna has categorically ruled out any possibility of the company building an engine with a pneumatic valve spring cylinder head for competing with in MotoGP™.

“Despite what has been said, we have not done this and will not be doing it in the future,” he said. “However, it is true that Aleix (Espargaro, Power Electronics Aspar) was provided with a more developed and more powerful engine.” The increase in performance has been estimated at 12 horsepower.

Espargaro was extremely pleased with the new engine, which he sampled in free practice for the Italian Grand Prix last Friday. He noted that - courtesy of the new powerplant - his CRT machine was capable of keeping up with prototype bikes on acceleration into the main straight at Mugello, but could not achieve such top speeds.