Aprilia Racing lands Alitalia

Aprilia Alitalia Racing

Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team will be entering the 2010 World Superbike Championship without hiding its ambitious goals. And yet this is only the second season for both team and bike in this highly prestigious and competitive world-series dedicated to motorcycles series production. The success of last year is thanks to Max Biaggi and the all new four cylinder Aprilia RSV4 which, during their first season in 2009, demonstrated a competitiveness which – even though the arrival of this bike and Max Biaggi’s return to Aprilia after twelve years were both hotly anticipated events – astonished everyone.

Now the challenge begins again. Every one of the most competitive opponents (seven different constructers are competing in the SBK world championship, representing the best that the motorcycling world has to offer) will be waiting for the Aprilia RSV4 and its riders at the start line. This means that the team can no longer count on being able to surprise its competitors, who are now fully aware of the capabilities of the Italian four-cylinder.

However, what the team can now count on is a vital year of experience with both the circuits and the bike.

Aprilia RSV4 enters the 2010 world championship with a magnificent Tricolour livery representing the team’s partnership with Alitalia. This livery, which brings together two prestigious and proudly Italian brands, is evocative of legendary chapters in Italian motor sports history, when teams flying the Alitalia colours won world championships in disciplines ranging from rally to offshore power boats.

Maurizio Roman Speaks… Piaggio Group Director of Product Development and Strategy

"Partnerships are often forged between brands and sponsors that have very little in common, with no relation whatsoever between their respective activities. Today, however, we are witnessing one of those rare cases of an auspicious union between brands that share many values. They share the same Italian-ness and, above all, the same commitment to technological advancement and excellence. Behind both are companies that strive to elevate prestigious brands to new heights, and which have made history in their respective segments.

In the early days, the Aprilia logo featured a tricolour capital A, which was strongly inspired by the graphic symbol of the national Italian airline. Today we are truly proud that Alitalia has chosen the fairings of the magnificent Aprilia RSV4 as the canvas to continue its history as brand involved to world-class motor sports. It is a great honor and opportunity for Aprilia to bear the colors of a prestigious brand such as Alitalia and to represent its values in the highly competitive arena of the world Superbike championship".

Leo Francesco Mercanti Speaks… Director of Aprilia Racing & Product Development

"It is cause for great pride for us to take part in a motor sports season that sees three major Italian groups represented on the starting grip in a world class technological competition with all of the world’s greatest motorcycle brands. It is a challenge not just in terms of sports, but also on a business and an industrial level, with the image of an entire country at stake. We understand the responsibility and honor of carrying a little piece of Italy with us around the world."

"These are brands that have written entire chapters in the history of Italian motor sports: Alitalia did so with its fantastic wins in rallying, the Eni-Agip group did it in Formula 1, and, naturally, the Piaggio Group has done so – and continues to do so to this day. We have a great tradition to uphold; it is a tough challenge that comes after a 2009 season in which Aprilia exceeded our expectations, proving its competitiveness with three world MotoGP titles and surprising everyone with its results in the Superbike series."

"These successes justify great ambitions and expectations; to fulfill them will be a great challenge. It is difficult to make predictions at the beginning of a season, but we have prepared well for the challenge, working hard and improving on every front".


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