MotoGP – Aprilia wants more help for technical director Danny Aldridge

Bruno Gomes

March 25, 2019

At the meeting held last week at the FIM Court of Appeal in Geneva, Switzerland, all the teams involved in the so-called “spoiler” controversy explained their views on what Ducati was trying to achieve by using the lower “spoiler” on the Desmosedici GP19. The judges are now in possession of technical simulations from Ducati, KTM, Honda, Suzuki, and Aprilia, that show the real effects of the “spoiler” used by Ducati at the first MotoGP race of the season in Qatar.

While we are waiting that the court announces its decision, stating if the “spoiler” is legal or not, team managers are talking to the press about the situation. One of those team managers is Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing manager, who attended the recent Aprilia All-Stars Day at Mugello – where Aprilia revealed the fantastic RSV4 X – and when questioned by press member present at the event, Albesiano gave his view of the whole situation.

Romano Albesiano started by saying what Aprilia got from the “spoiler” simulations, results that the Italian team showed at the FIM Court of Appeal

“We did computer simulations with this type of spoiler and we noticed that it does generate a drag, an aerodynamic charge, while also cooling the rear tire. In other words, it’s something that might give an advantage in a race. The fact is that after the Qatar pre-season test, we got a clarification on the rules that clearly stated that we couldn’t use any component in that area that creates downforce. But that’s a spoiler, and a spoiler generates downforce, an even a small charge could make a difference”.

The Aprilia Racing boss also reinforced the idea that the protest against Ducati “spoiler” isn’t a way to discredit Andrea Dovizioso’s efforts and the victory at the Qatar GP. Romano Albesiano wants that MotoGP technical director Danny Aldridge explains exactly what is legal or not, and in that view, Albesiano asks that Aldridge gets help to make the decisions

“We don’t want to take out any merit to Dovizioso’s victory, but the final decision is in the hands of just one person (Danny Aldridge). I think we should reinforce the structure of the technical director and help him, who needs to decide on such different things that he might not be a specialist in all of them”.

And if the court decides that the “spoiler” used by Ducati is legal, is Aprilia ready to use something similar to what their rivals used in Qatar?

According to Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing was already working on a “spoiler” of their own, but as soon as the MotoGP technical director said they couldn’t use it, they stopped the development and decided not to use it.

But if the Court says it’s legal, then Aprilia Racing will have their “spoiler” ready to be used by factory riders Aleix Espargaró and Andrea Iannone very soon

“We could have it ready for the Austin GP. Let’s say that over the last few days we’ve been studying this possibility”, said Albesiano to the press present at the Aprilia All-Stars Day.