Aprilia
45°32′45″N 12°04′15″E / 45.5458747°N 12.0709374°E
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Alberto Beggio |
| Headquarters | , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rocco Sabelli (CEO) |
| Products | Motorcycles & Scooters |
| Parent | Piaggio Group |
| Website | aprilia.com |
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle and scooter manufacturer in Noale, Italy, founded by Alberto Beggio.[1]
History
[edit]
Early days
[edit]Aprilia, named after the pre-war Lancia Aprilia,[2] was founded after the Second World War by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio as a bicycle production factory at Noale, Italy, in the province of Venice. Alberto's son, Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle".[3] The first production Aprilia mopeds were named Colibrì, Daniela, and Packi. Aprilia later produced a motocross bike in 1970 called the Scarabeo. Produced until the end of the 1970s, the Scarabeo came in 50 and 125 cc versions[4].
In 1977, Ivan Alborghetti from Milan, Italy won the Italian 125 and 250 cc motocross championships on Aprilia motorcycles. In 1978, Alborghetti closed the season with two third places in individual races and sixth place in the World Championship. In the 1980s, Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc and in 1981, Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine. In 1983, Aprilia launched the St 125 road bike and in 1984, they launched an improved model called STX as well as an enduro, called the ET 50.[5][6][better source needed]
In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian company Rotax. In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX. In 1986, Aprilia launched the AF1, a small sports model; and the Tuareg, a large tanked bike for African rallies like the Dakar Rally. Aprilia factory rider Philippe Berlatier contended for the trials world championship reaching fifth place, and Loris Reggiani rode an Aprilia GP 250 with Rotax engine to sixth place in the road racing World Championship. Two seasons later, on August 30, 1987, at San Marino Grand Prix in Misano Loris Reggiani's AF1 won the first World Speed Championship.[7]
In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics. Later, in 1992 Aprilia rider Alessandro Gramigni won the World 125 Road Racing Championship title. Also in 1992, Tommy Ahvala won the World Trials Championship on an Aprilia Climber. Since then, Aprilia has 124 times won 125 and 250 cc class Grand Prix, 15 Road Racing World Championship titles, and 16 European speed titles. Many world champions started on Aprilia such as Biaggi, Capirossi, Gramigni, Locatelli, Sakata and Rossi.[7]
In 1995, Aprilia commissioned Philippe Starck to design the Motò which was shown in New York's Modern Art Museum. Also in 1995, Aprilia launched the two stroke RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes. In 1998, Aprilia launched the RSV Mille, a 1000cc V-Twin Superbike, and the Falco, a 1000cc V-Twin sport tourer with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of a Rotax 1000cc engine.[citation needed]
In 1999, Aprilia entered World Superbike Championship racing with its RSV Mille, and during 2000, Aprilia acquired Moto-Guzzi and Laverda, both historic heritage Italian marques. In 2000, Aprilia launched the 50 cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also the RST Futura, a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; an adventure touring motorcycle. Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000 cc V-Twin.[citation needed]
Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched the RSV Mille Tuono which was essentially an RSV Mille with motocross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year. In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA, to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.[citation needed]
With the acquisition by Piaggio, the new President of Aprilia is Roberto Colaninno (President of Piaggio & C.), and the managing director is Rocco Sabelli. The son of the founder, Ivano Beggio, was the Honorary President and died on 13 March 2018.[8] On 15 August 2010, Aprilia became the most successful motorcycle racing brand in history, surpassing fellow Italian MV Agusta with a record 276th victory.[9]
Timeline
[edit]Motorcycles
[edit]Alberto's son, Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle".[10]
The first production Aprilia mopeds were named "Colibrì", "Daniela", and "Packi".
In the 1980s, Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc.
In 1981, Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine.
In 1983, Aprilia launched the St 125 road bike.
In 1984, they launched an improved model called STX, as well as an enduro, called the ET 50.[11][12]
In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian company Rotax.
In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX.
In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics.
Scooters
[edit]In the 1990s, Aprilia entered the scooter market starting in 1990 with Italy's first all-plastic scooter, the Amico.
In 1992, Aprilia introduced the Amico LK and the two stroke Pegaso 125, both with catalytic converters.
In 1993, Aprilia launched a large diameter wheel scooter reusing the name Scarabeo with a four-stroke, four-valve engine.
Later, Aprilia launched more scooters such as the Leonardo, the SR and the Gulliver.[citation needed]
In 1995, Aprilia commissioned Philippe Starck to design the Motò which was shown in New York's Modern Art Museum.
Also in 1995, Aprilia launched the two stroke RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes.
In 1998, Aprilia launched the RSV Mille, a 1000cc V-Twin Superbike, and the Falco, a 1000cc V-Twin sport tourer with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of a Rotax 1000cc engine.[citation needed]
In 2000, Aprilia launched the 50 cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also the RST Futura, a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; an adventure touring motorcycle.
Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000 cc V-Twin.[citation needed]
Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched the RSV Mille Tuono which was essentially an RSV Mille with motocross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year.
Sportbikes
[edit]Aprilia produced a motocross bike in 50 and 125 cc versions in the 1970s called the Scarabeo.
Since in the 1980s, Aprilia has also produced large sportbikes such as the 1,000 cc V-twin RSV Mille and the V4 RSV4.
In 1986, Aprilia launched the AF1, a small sports model; and the Tuareg, a large tanked bike for African rallies like the Dakar Rally.
Operation
[edit]Acquisition
[edit]During 2000, Aprilia acquired Moto Guzzi and Laverda, both historic heritage Italian marques.[13]
Ownership
[edit]In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA,[14] to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.
With the acquisition by Piaggio, the new President of Aprilia is Roberto Colaninno (President of Piaggio & C.), and the managing director is Rocco Sabelli. The son of the founder, Ivano Beggio, was the Honorary President and died on 13 March 2018.[15]
Racing
[edit] | |
| 2025 name | Aprilia Racing |
|---|---|
| Base | Scorzè, Italy |
| Principal | Massimo Rivola |
| Racing manager | Paolo Bonora |
| Rider(s) | MotoGP: 1. Jorge Martin 72. Marco Bezzecchi 32. Lorenzo Savadori (test rider) |
| Motorcycle | Aprilia RS-GP |
| Tyres | Michelin |
| Riders' Championships | – |
Despite being a relatively small company by global motorcycling standards, Aprilia is very active in motorcycle sports.
Aprilia has contested many road racing formulae, including the now-defunct 125 cc,[16] 250 cc and 500 cc[16][17] Grand Prix classes of FIM World Championships.
Aprilia have also been in and out of the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship - as a factory team[18][19][20] and a constructor, having partnered with Gresini Racing (from 2015[21] to 2021) and Trackhouse Racing (since 2024)[22] - alongside other commitments.
Riders' championships
[edit]| Year | Class | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 125cc |  Alessandro Gramigni
|
Aprilia RS125R |
| 1994 |  Kazuto Sakata
| ||
| 250cc | Max Biaggi
|
Aprilia RSV 250 | |
| 1995 | |||
| 1996 | |||
| 1997 | 125cc | Valentino Rossi
|
Aprilia RS125R |
| 1998 | Kazuto Sakata
| ||
| 250cc | Loris Capirossi
|
Aprilia RSV 250 | |
| 1999 | Valentino Rossi
| ||
| 2000 | 125cc | Roberto Locatelli
|
Aprilia RS125R |
| 2002 |  Arnaud Vincent
| ||
| 250cc | Marco Melandri
|
Aprilia RSV 250 | |
| 2003 |  Manuel Poggiali
| ||
| 2006 | 125cc |  Álvaro Bautista
|
Aprilia RS125R |
| 250cc | Jorge Lorenzo
|
Aprilia RSW 250 | |
| 2007 | 125cc |  Gábor Talmácsi
|
Aprilia RS125R |
| 250cc | Jorge Lorenzo
|
Aprilia RSA 250 | |
| 2009 | 125cc | Julián Simón
|
Aprilia RSA 125 |
| 2011 | Nicolás Terol
|
Manufacturers' championships
[edit]- 250cc class
- 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- 125cc class
- 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Superbike World Championship (SBK)
[edit]
Aprilia entered the Superbike World Championship in 1999 using a homologation special version of their V-twin road bike RSV Mille.
They were third in the riders' championship in 2000 with rider Troy Corser, and third in manufacturers' points and fourth in rider points both in 2001 with Corser and in 2002 with Noriyuki Haga. Aprilia retired from the series at the end of that season.[citation needed]
In February 2008, Aprilia debuted a V-4 superbike, the RSV4, for the 2009 Superbike World Championship.[23]
Aprilia won its first Superbike world championship in 2010 with Max Biaggi, claiming both the riders and the manufacturers titles.[citation needed]
Riders' championships
[edit]| Year | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Max Biaggi
|
Aprilia RSV4 1000 |
| 2012 | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | |
| 2014 | Sylvain Guintoli
|
Manufacturers' championships
[edit]SuperMoto World Championship
[edit]
Aprilia debuted in the FIM Supermoto World Championship in 2004 and since then it has won many titles in both S1 and S2 classes.[citation needed]
Riders' championships
[edit]| Year | Class | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | S2 | Jerome Giraudo
|
Aprilia SXV 450 |
| 2006 | Thierry Van Den Bosch
| ||
| 2011 | S1 | Adrien Chareyre
|
Aprilia MXV-S 450 |
Manufacturers' championships
[edit]- S2 class: 2006, 2007
- S1 class: 2008, 2011
Motocross World Championship
[edit]Aprilia made their international racing debut in the Motocross World Championship competing in the 125cc class from 1976 until 1981 with a best result being a fifth place in the 1979 season with rider Corrado Maddi.[24]
Results
[edit]MotoGP results
[edit]By rider
[edit]| Year | Class | Team name | Bike | Riders | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | F. laps | Points | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MotoGP | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia RS-GP | Maverick Vinales
|
20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 11th |
| Aleix Espargaró
|
20 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 212 | 4th | ||||
| 2023 | Maverick Viñales
|
20 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 204 | 7th | |||
| Aleix Espargaró
|
20 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 206 | 6th | ||||
| Lorenzo Savadori
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (12) | 24th | ||||
| 2024 | Maverick Viñales
|
19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 189* | 7th* | |||
| Aleix Espargaró
|
19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 134* | 11th* | ||||
| Lorenzo Savadori
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (0)* | 28th* |
By season
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Motorcycle | Tyres | Riders | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Points | RC | Points | TC | Points | MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Aprilia RS-GP | M | QAT | INA | ARG | AME | POR | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | RSM | ARA | JPN | THA | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||
| Aleix Espargaró
|
4 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 10 | Ret | 212 | 4th | 334 | 3rd | 248 | 3rd | |||
| Maverick Viñales
|
12 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 7 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 16 | Ret | 122 | 11th | |||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori
|
Ret | 21 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 0 | NC | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | POR | ARG | AME | SPA | FRA | ITA | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | CAT | RSM | IND | JPN | INA | AUS | THA | MAL | QAT | VAL | |||||||||
| Maverick Viñales
|
25 | 127 | 4 | Ret7 | Ret9 | 12 | Ret | Ret7 | 53 | 68 | 23 | 56 | 88 | 199 | 24 | 11 | Ret | 11 | 46 | 104 | 204 | 7th | 410 | 5th | 326 | 3rd | |||
| Aleix Espargaró
|
96 | 15 | Ret4 | 5 | 58 | 68 | 169 | 34 | 15 | 97 | 11 | 128 | Ret | 5 | 10 | 8 | 85 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 206 | 6th | |||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori
|
18 | 11 | 19 | 5 (12) | 24th | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | POR | ARG | AME | SPA | FRA | ITA | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | CAT | RSM | IND | JPN | INA | AUS | THA | MAL | QAT | VAL | |||||||||
| Maverick Viñales
|
109 | Ret1 | 11 | 9 | 53 | 128 | 85 | 53 | 127 | 138 | 7 | Ret | 16 | 6 | 67 | Ret9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 189* | 7th* | 335* | 4th* | 285 | 3rd | ||||
| Aleix Espargaró
|
83 | 88 | 75 | Ret | 95 | 41 | 119 | DNS | WD | 63 | 93 | 10 | Ret | 8 | Ret | 9 | 168 | 9 | 13 | 134* | 11th* | ||||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori
|
Ret | 21 | DNS | 20 | 0 (0)* | 28th* | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Models
[edit] | This section needs to be updated. (July 2021) |
- Racing motorcycles
Aprilia models are:
- Road
- AF1
- RSV Mille
- RST1000 Futura
- RSVR1000R
- RSV4 Factory
- RSV4 RR
- RSV4 R
- Tuono 125
- Tuono 1000R
- Tuono 660
- Tuono V4 R
- Dorsoduro 1200
- Dorsoduro 900
- Dorsoduro 750
- Shiver 900
- Shiver 750
- Mana 850 GT
- RS4 125
- RS4 50
- RS 50
- RS 125
- RS 250
- RS 457
- Tuono 457
- RS 660
- STX 125
- Dual-sport
- ETX 125
- ETX 350
- ETX 600
- ETV 1000
- Caponord 1200
- Pegaso 50
- Pegaso 125
- Pegaso 600
- Pegaso 650
- Tuareg 50 rally
- Tuareg 125 rally
- Tuareg 250 rally
- Tuareg 50
- Tuareg 125
- Tuareg 350
- Tuareg 600
- Tuareg 660
- Off-road
- Scooters
See also
[edit]
- Gilera –
- Vespa – scooters made by Piaggio
- List of Italian companies
References
[edit]- ^ "The History Of Aprilia". piaggiogroup.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "#bearacer club". 22 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ Pullen, Greg (2018). A-Z of Italian motorcycle manufactures. Wiltshire. ISBN 978-1-78500-488-9. OCLC 1065523660.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "#bearacer club". 22 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Aprilia ET50 Rv4-3 LC". www.mopedarmy.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "The Remarkable History of Aprilia". Viking Bags. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ a b "THE HISTORY OF APRILIA". press.piaggiogroup.com. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Aprilia founder Ivano Beggio dies, aged 73 - Carole Nash". Carole Nash. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Aprilia celebrates record GP win | MotoGP News | Aug 2010". Crash.Net. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ Pullen, Greg (2018). A-Z of Italian motorcycle manufactures. Wiltshire. ISBN 978-1-78500-488-9. OCLC 1065523660.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Aprilia ET50 Rv4-3 LC". www.mopedarmy.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "The Remarkable History of Aprilia". Viking Bags. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "The Remarkable History of Aprilia". Viking Bags. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Piaggio Acquisition Of Aprilia Creates Fourth-largest Motorcycle Company In The World". roadracingworld.com. 6 January 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Aprilia founder Ivano Beggio dies, aged 73 - Carole Nash". Carole Nash. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ a b Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-1-874557-83-8
- ^ Oxley, Mat (4 April 2022). "How Aprilia finally made it to the top of MotoGP". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ McLaren, Peter (29 April 2021). "Official: Aprilia gets Factory grid places for MotoGP 2022". Crash.net. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Jorge Martin to join Aprilia Racing in 2025 on a multi-year deal". The Official Home of MotoGP. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "#GrazieCapitano: Aleix Espargaro announces retirement in Barcelona". The Official Home of MotoGP. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Aprilia Introduces 2015 MotoGP Team". Cycle World. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ motogp.com (5 December 2023). "Trackhouse Racing lands in MotoGP™". The Official Home of MotoGP. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Soup :: Aprilia Debuts V-4 Superbike Due In WSBK Next Season :: 02-25-2008". Superbikeplanet.com. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ "1979 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Aprilia's new and extra exclusive RSV4 X - infonbeyond.com". infonbeyond.com. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
External links
[edit]
