Picture exclusive: Laverty gets first ride on Aprilia RSV4

Eugene Laverty got his first ride on the factory Aprilia RSV4 he will campaign in the World Superbike Championship in 2012. Riding at Portimao this morning the 25 year old completed an out lap before coming straight back into the pits to make changes to the gear lever and quickshifter to improve his feeling on down shifts.

His immediate response to his engineers when he was asked about his first impression of the bike was ‘it’s small’.

Laverty will continue testing throughout the day in an effort to establish a base setting for the bike and is expected to get further testing later this month.