MotoGP: Aprilia to run special charity colourscheme

The Gresini Aprilia MotoGP machines of Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl will run a special livery this weekend for the duo’s final race with the factory, as they team up with charity (Red) to support their work in fighting disease.

Originally formed by U2 frontman Bono and activist and politician Bobby Shriver, (Red) is perhaps more famous for their range of branded products produced to raise funds for their work, including Apple iPods, Starbucks coffees and special edition Coca Cola bottles.

The money raised supports parent organisation the ONE Campaign in their work fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa.

In a statement released by the Noale factory, they say that the charity’s work over the years drove them and parent firm Piaggio to run the special livery.

“The Valencia GP round will be a special occasion for Aprilia Racing. For the last race of the 2016 season, the entire team will dress in red and the Aprilia RS-GP bikes will be on the track in a special livery, bathed in the same colour, where only the (RED) logo will appear to celebrate the association that has distinguished itself over the years with its efforts in policies of the fight against diseases that represent one of the biggest problems of our times.

“This unprecedented initiative makes Aprilia Racing and the entire Piaggio Group proud to be promoters and protagonists of it.

“And to coincide with the Valencia race, the hashtag #iRideRED arrives, to be shared full throttle and to participate in the most important race, the one against the HIV virus and other terrible diseases.”