Aprilia’s new technical director Fabiano Strelacchini says it was a “mutually agreed” resolution for him to depart his MotoGP position at KTM after “there was not an awesome compatibility”.
Sterlacchini was a veteran of Ducati when he left to affix the KTM challenge in June of 2021.
Nevertheless, by the summer time of this yr Sterlacchini had left his submit on the Austrian model and was introduced in the course of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend as Aprilia’s new technical director.
He steps in to interchange Romano Albesiano, who’s headed for Honda having helped steer Aprilia from the again of the grid on its comeback in 2015 to being race winners for the primary time in MotoGP.
Talking to TG Regione Marche, Sterlacchini stated of his resolution to depart KTM: “The logistical facet considerably conditioned the selection, however I additionally knew that after I began.
“So there have been additionally causes; from the second there was not an awesome compatibility, it was a choice by mutual settlement.”
Sterlacchini started his position with Aprilia on the finish of the season and is a part of widespread change inside the Italian producer, which features a refreshed rider line-up.
Aprilia welcomes 2024 world champion Jorge Martin to its manufacturing facility staff alongside Marco Bezzecchi, whereas rookie Ai Ogura steps as much as race for Trackhouse.
After the primary take a look at of the brand new staff in Barcelona final month, Sterlacchini famous: “It’s going fairly nicely.
“The preliminary method of each riders, each Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, was fairly constructive.
“They confirmed some excellent traits of the bike.
“Clearly there can be some facets to work on, however coping with these two riders will give us the yardstick of the place we’re and the facets the place we have to work.
“They each come from a really quick bike and Jorge particularly is the reigning world champion.”
Aprilia was the one producer apart from Ducati to win a grand prix in 2024, courtesy of Maverick Vinales in America.
However a dip in type for the RS-GP within the second half of the season noticed Aprilia slip to 3rd within the producers’ standings behind KTM.
Its highest positioned rider within the championship was Vinales – who strikes to KTM for 2025 – in seventh.
