Aprilia unveiled its 2012 World Superbike team in Milan, Italy, with 2010 champion Max Biaggi and new teammate Eugene Laverty presenting the team's RSV4 machinery. "I must say that for 2012 I am even more motivated after what happened last year," said Biaggi in a press release issued by the team. "I look at this bike which I have looked after from the time it was introduced as very much my own and I'm certain that we have a lot to say and a lot to win, I'm certain that the level of competition, with the many team changes among my rivals, has increased even more."
Max Biaggi (left) and Eugene...
Max Biaggi (left) and Eugene Laverty presented their 2012 Aprilia RSV4 World Superbikes in Milan
Eugene Laverty, now in his second season of World Superbike after a year on the now-defunct Yamaha team, has already ridden the Aprilia at the 2011 post-season test in Portimao. "From the very first laps astride the RSV4 I had a good feeling with the bike. I put some promising times on the board and the guys on the team also made me feel like part of the family straight away."
Luigi Dall'Igna will continue as the Technical and Sport Director of the racing Department, with Dario Raimondi as team manager. Max Biaggi's new head mechanic is Aligi Deganello, who worked with the late Marco Simoncelli at Aprilia and the Gresini MotoGP team, while Eugene Laverty brought Marcus Eschembacher along with him from Yamaha.
The first round of the 2012 World Superbike series takes place at Phillip Island in Australia, on Feb. 26th.