After two successful test days at Misano this week, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini have confirmed that Maverick Viñales will race for them for the remainder of 2021, starting at the upcoming Aragon GP.
The Spanish rider, extremely impressed by his first outing with the Noale factory at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, will line up alongside British GP podium finisher Aleix Espargaro.
Lorenzo Savadori will therefore be confirmed as test rider for the 2022 season. For the rest of the 2021 season, Savadori will be taking part in a selection of wildcards that Aprilia have available. Savadori’s schedule will be formalised as soon as he has fully recovered from the injury suffered during the Styria GP, which was a fractured right malleolus that required surgery.
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO: "We are extremely proud to be able to announce our plans for the current season and for 2022 with the goal of optimising the contributions of our three riders to the utmost. Alongside our confirmed rider, Aleix, it is our pleasure to welcome a talented athlete like Maverick to the Aprilia Racing team, who demonstrated a great feeling with the team and the bike straight away and who I am confident will be able to give his best as early as the Aragón GP. At the same time, we are also confirming Lorenzo’s role as 2022 test rider. This is a fundamental position that rewards the great efforts he has demonstrated in developing the new RS-GP, whereas he will finish out the 2021 season taking advantage of the wild cards that we’ll decide on together as soon as he is back to 100% fitness."
Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Technical Director: "The decision to have Maverick on the track from Aragón is a direct result of the tests done in Misano. It was not a given that, after a career spent up to now on a bike with an in-line engine, Maverick would have a good feeling with our V4 straight away. This is why the test on this track, historically not an easy one for our bike, was an important moment of assessment. Therefore, we are satisfied with Maverick’s immediately positive reactions, which demonstrated a good feeling both with the RS-GP and with the team and our work method. His and Aleix’s talent, combined with the experience Lorenzo has gained this season, make us optimistic about the future of our MotoGP project."