Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez have hailed Aprilia’s new technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini following the marque’s spectacular ascent in direction of the entrance of the sphere in MotoGP.
Sterlacchini joined Aprilia on the finish of the 2024 season after profitable stints at KTM and, most notably, Ducati, the place he labored intently with basic supervisor Gigi Dall’Igna.
Below the Italian engineer’s stewardship, Aprilia is having fun with its greatest season ever in MotoGP, profitable grands prix in Britain and Australia and climbing to second place within the producers’ standings behind Ducati.
Whereas the RS-GP scored victories in each 2023 and ‘24, it has developed into a motorbike that performs constantly throughout a variety of tracks, with Aprilia addressing long-running weaknesses comparable to warmth dissipation at Asian venues.
Manufacturing unit Aprilia rider Bezzecchi highlighted Sterlacchini’s intelligence, expertise and approachable character as key qualities behind the staff’s progress in 2025.
“To start with, he’s a brilliant clever particular person – not simply on the motorbikes facet, however usually, you may discuss every thing and he is aware of many many issues,” mentioned the four-time race winner. “That is tremendous cool as a result of having a dialog outdoors of racing is tremendous good with him.
“When it comes to racing, his know-how is tremendous massive and he has a number of expertise. He’s additionally a pleasant character so he does not put you in a tough scenario. Once I converse typically with some [other] engineers, I really feel [I know] a bit lower than them when it comes to data. With Fabiano, it’s tremendous completely different, it’s superb to stick with him.
“He has a number of expertise, he is tremendous calm and tremendous skilled, and I really feel excellent with him.”
Fabiano Sterlacchini, Technical director Aprilia Racing, Paolo Bonoro, Staff supervisor Aprilia Racing
Photograph by: Aprilia Racing
Trackhouse rider Fernandez first raced a motorbike designed by Sterlacchini in 2022 when he stepped as much as MotoGP with Tech3 KTM. This season, Sterlacchini’s steering helped him declare his maiden MotoGP victory on the Australian Grand Prix.
“It was a little bit bit unusual initially as a result of I had the likelihood to work with him at KTM once I simply got here to MotoGP, however we did not actually work collectively,” Fernandez revealed.
“This yr, initially of the season I didn’t have sufficient time to work with him due to my damage, however over the last GPs he was the particular person serving to me to make the final step to reach at this sort of place.
“I’m tremendous comfortable to work with him. It is true that he’s a brilliant good particular person. But additionally in my case, he helped me quite a bit, particularly within the final second once I needed to make the ultimate step.”
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