MotoGP: Aprilia bosses slams riders and team

Aprilia racing boss Romano Albesiano and parent company Piaggio MD Roberto Colaninno slammed the team’s MotoGP riders and crew, after jump starts and miscommunication cost them the chance for some of their best performances of the season yesterday in Austria.

Both riders jumped the start, forcing a ride though penalty, but after a miscommunication with Bradl the German ended up coming into the pits not once but twice – something that Colaninno says was wholly unacceptable.

“Today Aprilia had everything needed to demonstrate the progress the RS-GP has made. From the first race of the season, the new bike has gradually improved and we cannot accept the fact that human error – whether having to do with technical management or how the race is conducted – keeps us from demonstrating our true value and achieving the results that Aprilia and this bike deserve.”

His views were echoed by racing manager Albesiano, who aired his wrath after the race towards both technicians and pilots.

“I am the first to be furious with the outcome of today’s race. Even on a circuit that does not favour us, we had the best RS-GP of the season prepared, a bike that has shown tangible improvement, both in terms of the engine and race pace, and the times are indisputable proof of this.

“If he had not had any problems, Alvaro would have easily finished in the top ten. We cannot accept that, after all this work, our potential is squandered because our riders are distracted at the start and because of trivial mistakes on our part in managing the messages on the dashboard.

“As professionals like Alvaro and Stefan, I expect concentration and maximum commitment until the end of the year, but I want to call the entire team to put in extra effort that will lead us to working nonstop in order to prepare for the race at Brno.”