Milwaukee Aprilia have completed two strong days of pre-season testing at the Phillip Island circuit
Two tests at Jerez and Portimao ended on a positive note for the team, marking a big step forward in performance. Testing at Phillip Island has brought further gains for riders Eugene Laverty and teammate Lorenzo Savadori on board the Aprilia RSV4 RF machine.
A year of knowledge and development with Aprilia Racing and SMR has put the team in a much stronger position than they were 12 months ago, ready for a new season with a good package to challenge for the top positions.
Round 1 of the season begins on Friday with FP1 at 09:45 (AEDT), a rule change meaning there are now 3 free practice sessions on the first day.
Eugene Laverty #50 – Aprilia RSV4-RF
“We’ve had a really good test overall, both days we made progress and got some great data. On the first run on Monday the bike didn’t feel good and I struggled, but the guys worked so hard and within a few more runs they’d transformed the bike. I think the key here has been continuity with the team and the data, and understanding the Aprilia more and more. Tuesday was a fantastic day for us to finish P4. In the morning session I went out on old tyres and went P1 which was unexpected, and we had good pace all day. For sure we are in better shape than last year and I feel a lot more confident on the bike. Everyone is excited ahead of round 1 this weekend, we’re in a good position and I’m excited to get back on track. My aim for the weekend is to be top 6 or better, considering we are in the mix more now. The thing we can’t rely on is the weather which could be wet, but it will be wet for everybody and we’ll get stuck in and I’ll push for the best result I can get.”