Aprilia Going Giant Hunting Again

APRILIA GOING GIANT HUNTING AGAIN

ROUNDUP

AFTER A PROMISING BUT problem-filled first year, Aprilia will again challenge 500cc grand prix racing's big boys with its 400cc Twin.

Aprilia believes that the bike’s cornering speeds—higher than those of 500s—can offset its marked power disadvantage.

Last year, Loris Reggiani qualified the bike-which rules state can weigh as much as 66 pounds less than the Fours-as high as seventh and had a best finish of ninth. But as pundits predicted, engine seizures were frequent.

In response, Aprilia withdrew from several races to work on its motor; now it says those problems have been solved and horsepower has been increased. Last year, the Noale, Italy, firm claimed more than 110 horsepower for the 400, some 65 down on the 500cc Fours. Now, it says the power is above 120.

Does this bike herald a return to the days when twostrokes ruled the road? Beyond giving the company a presence in the world’s most prestigious class of roadracing, Aprilia says experience gained from GP racing could be applied to streetbikes. It says racing the RSV helps its engineers learn about building relatively largedisplacement, high-performance two-stroke engines.

-Robert Hough