MotoGP | Mugello GP: Aprilia doubles, satellite team with RNF Racing

Italian GP Mugello Aprilia MotoGP 2022 – Aprilia announced at Mugello the agreement with RNF Racing which will bring two more RS-GPs to the track in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The Venetian company takes the two places that will be vacated by Suzuki, which as is well known will abandon MotoGP at the end of 2022. Below is the Aprilia press release.

Press release Aprilia Team Satellite with RNF Racing Mugello 2002

From the 2023 season there will be four Aprilia RS-GPs involved in the MotoGP class of the World Championship.
Aprilia Racing and the RNF Racing team have signed an agreement valid for two seasons, renewable for a further two years. For the first time in its young history in MotoGP, Aprilia will have a satellite team.

After the positive start to the 2022 season and the confirmation of the factory team riders Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales for the next two years, the agreement which will lead to the doubling of Aprilia bikes on the track is a further step in the growth path, both technical both organisational, which the Noale racing department has set itself as an objective.

The philosophy with which Aprilia approaches this opportunity is in line with what has been done so far, the collaboration with RNF Racing will not be limited to the sale of the motorbikes but provides for a complete synergy that will lead Aprilia Racing to invest in the partnership for the training of engineers, technicians, managers and, of course, drivers.
A multi-year program which, it is hoped, will lead to the expansion, consolidation and valorisation of a technical and management culture which represents the heritage of the Italian factory.

RNF Racing, despite being a relatively young team, has demonstrated great solidity and professionalism, achieving important results and rightfully entering the MotoGP stage. The result is the fruit of passion but also of technical and organizational ability that will be a precious ally of Aprilia Racing for the future.

Statements Massimo Rivola Aprilia Team Satellite with RNF Racing Mugello 2002

“I am happy to announce the agreement with RNF Racing. We have always thought in small steps and while we demonstrate the competitiveness of our RS-GP, a natural part of the journey is to see two more on the track. The Noale racing department is a true wealth of knowledge, of technical culture applied to very high performance motorbikes as well as sports management. With RNF Racing we find a partner to increase and enhance this extraordinary heritage. We obviously think about the riders and improved competitiveness, but also about raising new generations of engineers, technicians and managers. To continue and improve the extraordinary, all-Italian tradition of Aprilia Racing.”

Statements Razlan Razali Aprilia Team Satellite with RNF Racing Mugello 2002

“We are absolutely thrilled with this long-term partnership signed with Aprilia Racing. Our philosophy will remain that of working together with the manufacturer to develop the riders who can one day become official Aprilia Racing. We will accompany them in their growth, trying to always be competitive and with the prospect of winning together with Aprilia Racing. The Italian company's proposal is in line with our long-term plans, our strategies and our expectations for the next two years. For this I want to thank Aprilia Racing for the trust it has placed in us and we can't wait to face next season with this new partnership. At the same time, we want to express our gratitude to Yamaha for these years of work and common growth. Now we will continue to focus on this season, working with great commitment to improve our results together with Yamaha and end 2022 in the best possible way.”

The names of the riders have not been communicated, but the names of Raul Fernandez, Remy Gardner, Alex Marquez and Alex Rins are mentioned, as well as some names from Moto2.