Aprilia RSV 4 Revealed at Piaggio Convention

[vermicious]

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aprilia.com%2Fmagazin e_dettaglio.asp%3Fid%3D1304&langpair=it|en&hl=en&i e=UTF8

The new bike, featuring a V4 power plant, is expected to hit the roads of Europe some time in 2008.

[Zachery]

Nice 200 HP for the racing bike. A V-4 huh. I didn't expect from Aprilia since they have V-Twins. Ducati V-Twins did great this weekend in World Superbike.

[sfcdjevans]

And the Emperor was right there on his privateer bike, him an Xaus look pretty darn good. So will WSBK change it's rules if this keeps up all year? Since I'm on a roll should Max have Marco's ride? And what about Naomi...

[Zachery]

I heard on the broadcast that WSBK would adjust the rules during the season if the Ducati dominated. Has that been done before? During the season?

[sfcdjevans]

Originally Posted by Zachery

I heard on the broadcast that WSBK would adjust the rules during the season if the Ducati dominated. Has that been done before? During the season?

I don't know if it has happened during a season before. But it wouldn't suprise me. The other manufactures have a bit of muscle. And remember, it's nothing personal, just business. Either way Ducati wins, provided they have a good PR team. Imagine Darren Stevens flipping the pictures in the board room, " So the concept is the only way to beat us was to change the rules...". Probably not the same way the others would see it but like I said a good PR team.-

[acecycleins]

Yep- it happened before. FIM added weight in week 6 or 7 when they let Ducati bump from the 888 motor to the litre motor.
Aprilia racing the V-4 is not a suprise. They figured weight would be a slight issue if they ran a twin. They didn't want that so V-4 it is. It's the cost of selling the street bike version that should be interesting. I figure the street bike will sell for just north of $30k. All the have to sell is some 1500 world wide, but $30k for an Aprilia, whew!

[bbtowns]

That rotax twin they had been running is wonderful, but this just gives us another Italian choice for motor configuration. That's a good thing.

[sfcdjevans]

Originally Posted by acecycleins

Yep- it happened before. FIM added weight in week 6 or 7 when they let Ducati bump from the 888 motor to the litre motor.
Aprilia racing the V-4 is not a suprise. They figured weight would be a slight issue if they ran a twin. They didn't want that so V-4 it is. It's the cost of selling the street bike version that should be interesting. I figure the street bike will sell for just north of $30k. All the have to sell is some 1500 world wide, but $30k for an Aprilia, whew!

Fortunatly for me I had put down my tea, 30K?

[acecycleins]

Originally Posted by bbtowns

That rotax twin they had been running is wonderful, but this just gives us another Italian choice for motor configuration. That's a good thing.

Absolutly! Fact is, when BMW enters the "new" 190hp/190kilo Superbike in WSB for 2009 things will be very interesting. KTM will enter their V-twin. Buell should have the 1125 ready for a Superbike run, too. With Aprilia, BMW, KTM and Buell all ready for 2009 racing will only get better.