World Superbike Testing
The factory Aprilia Alitalia duo of Max Biaggi and Leon Camier undertook two days of testing at the fast and flowing Mugello circuit on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to ensure they will be fully prepared for the next few World Superbike race meetings, starting with Monza on May 8.
Rain appeared early on day two but did not really limit the plans of the team, with Aprilia RSV4 staff particularly pleased that Camier – who last rode the Tuscan circuit some years ago on a 125cc machine – setting a best lap of 1’51.2, only a tenth of a second slower than current World Superbike Champion Max Biaggi, with each rider on race tires.
Francesco Guidotti (Alitalia Aprilia Team Manager) says: “We tested two different engine settings and some chassis settings to help us be ready for the race next week. We did not try out different engines, just settings, no special parts just for Monza.
“The changes are a step forward and we are working to develop the engine and all of the bike in time for the next race. But not only for Monza, from Monza onwards. We did around 50 laps each day with each rider and the work we do is for the whole of the rest of the season. We are quite happy, looking forward to the next weekend with confidence.”
Guidotti accepted that Monza may be a pivotal World Superbike race in 2011, particularly as WSBK championship leader Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) has such a big lead after the first three rounds.
Francesco Guidotti says: “At Monza we have to make our best and if possible our best is winning. Monza will be a key race for the championship because the gap now is quite big and Monza is our home race, so of course there is big motivation around it. We will try for sure to close the gap as soon as possible. We will test at Misano after the Monza race, because Misano is our designated test track and it was planned for us to be at Misano from the beginning of the year.”
