Most 250s were boring, with the exception of the Kawasaki KR-1S, Aprilia RS250 and Suzuki RGV250, but you needed a full licence to ride those. Roll on a few decades later and the choice for what is an entry-level motorcycle is phenomenal. In a range of capacities, both old and new, new riders can choose from adventure bikes, maxi scooters, cruisers, nakedbikes, tourers, sports-tourers, motards, trailbikes and, of course, sportsbikes. Enter the Aprilia RS457.

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Looking very much like the entry-level, race-replica version of the marque RSV4 superbike, the new RS 457 isn’t just a lookalike sportsbike for those that don’t have the experience or perhaps money to afford the production road racer. Just as with the bigger capacity bikes in the range, Aprilia has put a concerted effort into making this new twin-cylinder sportsbike go as good as it looks.

Fresh off the back of the launch of the RS 660 (read our RS 660 review here), Aprilia has bookended their sportsbike range with the parallel-twin, 457cc RS 457. Every much looking like the racer-inspired small capacity machine, this isn’t of the ilk of the two-stroke RS 250 – an out-and-out production racer, but more so an evolution of the timid four-stroke RS4 125. But unlike the RS4, Aprilia hasn’t left one aspect of this machine’s performance unfettered.

“The engine is a 270-degree firing order, 457cc parallel-twin that puts out 35kW and 44Nm – with most of that delivered by 3000rpm”…

This is a ground-up, new machine for Aprilia. The engine is a 270-degree firing order, 457cc parallel-twin that puts out 35kW and 44Nm – with most of that delivered by 3000rpm with the design centring around minimising friction (see technical breakout) across various engine components and gearbox. The architecture of the cylinder-heads isn’t too far removed from the RSV4 Aprilia claims, and at a glance it certainly looks that way.

Although the twin revs out to a 10,500rpm redline, most of the torque is at hand low in the rev range. On the road, it gets away quickly from a standstill with no need for riding the clutch to get the revs up. It pulls through the rev range strongly and the good spread through the six-speed gearbox won’t see you frantically working through the ’box. Out on the open road, the strong bottom-end power means the tight and twisty stuff is fun and at freeway speeds you don’t feel like you are wringing its neck.

We also rode at Beckley Park International Raceway – a neat little go-kart track just behind the clubhouse turn of the Geelong Horse Racing venue. With a load of first and second gear corners, with a hard-braking first-gear hairpin, we got a great opportunity to ask the most of the 457’s engine. Just as it was on the road, the power delivery is user friendly with loads of strong low rpm torque the highlight of the package.

Here at the track is where the host of electronic goodies, led by the mode selectors, stood out. The three different riding modes – Eco, Sport and Rain – give a pronounced difference in power delivery via the ride-by-wire throttle. The ABS has two settings – both wheels, or front only – allowing riders who can to slide the rear end into corners. While a bi-directional quickshifter is optional, most riders won’t need one.

Traction control is standard fitment on the RS 457 and while I never used it on the track, I got to feel it work doing u-turns on a dirty country back road for the obligatory bike launch photoshoot. Being part of a Bosch system – just like the ABS – it’ll no doubt work well on wet and slippery roads. Like the riding modes, the traction control is switched simply from the switchgear and can be done on the fly. What mode and settings you have is displayed on the big 5-inch TFT dash that looks like it’s straight off a superbike.

You can tell a lot of refinement has gone into getting the handling characteristics of the RS 457 just right. With preload adjustment at both ends, rolling on 110 and 150-section tyres (just like the RS250 did) and with rake, trail and wheelbase dimensions similar to the rest of the class, the twin-spar aluminium alloy frame is the biggest point of difference. The marketing blurb says Aprilia has used its experience gained through this chassis design in racing to get the RS 457 handling as it is, and it’s hard to argue with.

On the track the RS 457 is nimble, compliant and controlled under hard cornering and braking. Acceleration doesn’t challenge the relatively basic suspension’s compliance nor the standard fitment rubber. On the more bumpy and unpredictable conditions on the road, the suspension is just as good, and light and precise handling did not give a hint of instability, with a more comprehensive ride needed to make that a given.

The riding position is spacious. Riders of all shapes and sizes – especially those over six-foot – found it roomy in the saddle, the reach to the handlebars not cramped and the footpegs not crampingly high nor so low that they cause ground clearance issues. Pillion comfort may not be as welcoming, but the reach from the back saddle to the footpegs is adult-sized. All in all, the ride triangle is a balance of comfort and sportiness and one that best suits the intended usage of most RS 457s.

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The brakes look every part like top of the line sportsbike kit. A radial mounted four-piston caliper up front looks MotoGP and while it doesn’t say Brembo, it is made by their small motorcycle division ByBre – By Brembo. Braking power is exceptional both front and rear and mated with the switchable Bosch ABS a safe and high-performing package on the road and the track. There is span adjustment available on the brake lever, but not on the clutch which is cable-actuated and light as a feather.

The racer-inspired styling cues don’t stop with the radial-mounted front brake either. The exhaust exiting the bellypan, sleek top triple-clamp design, indicators integrated within the headlight unit, a double-skin look to the fairing, GP-inspired aerodynamic features and the tiny rear tail unit all mimic the big boy racer as it was intended to. Throw in an extra $400 for the MotoGP-inspired Replica colour scheme and you really have a true race replica.

Conclusion

Best thing of all about the RS 457 is that this new machine isn’t all show and no go. With a concerted effort on creating a learner-legal machine that muscles its way to the top of the new entry-level sportsbike pack with the most power and best power-to-weight ratio allowed, Aprilia has also built a machine with the handling and engine performance that will keep experienced riders coming back for more. Check out the Rs 457 in your local Aprilia shop now, and test ride one while you are there…

2024 Aprilia RS457 Tech Talk
Engine

The Aprilia RS 457 is powered by two-cylinder, 457cc, 270-degree, liquid-cooled engine with Double Overhead Camshafts (DOHC) with four valves per cylinder. The engine, that shares a lot of its architecture with the RSV4 superbike, has 35kW of peak power at 9400rpm and peak torque of 44Nm at 6700rpm with 82 per cent of that figure on hand from 3000rpm. Teamed with a wet weight of 175kg, the power-to-weight ratio of the RS is hard to beat in the LAMS class.

Unlike the mid-sized RS 660, the 457 engine differs in that a coolant by-pass circuit and blow-by circuit are fully integrated into the engine, with no external piping like the bigger machine has. The gearbox features roller cages like the V4 engines, instead of bushings, to reduce friction while the gearbox lubrication system is integrated into the shifting dropout shafts.

Reciprocating friction is reduced in the engine by using a cylinder offset 6.5mm from the crankshaft, roller bearings instead of bushings for the water pump and countershaft, and piston pins and timing cups with DLC coating. Fracture-split conrods are used with circular bushings and a servo clutch reduces effort at the lever along with a slipper function.

Big service intervals are another attractive point on the twin-cylinder engine while as a function of Euro 5 + emissions compliance, the RSV457 engine shuts down one cylinder on deceleration to both conserve fuel and reduce noise somewhat.

Chassis

The new twin-cylinder RS 457 engine is mounted in a dual-beam cast aluminium frame with the crankcase functioning as a load-bearing element, similarly to the way it is on the RS 660. Up front, the 41mm upside-down forks are preload adjustable, with 120mm of travel, while at the rear, the monoshock is adjustable for preload and has 130mm of travel. The swingarm is made in steel.

The braking system is made by ByBre – a Brembo brand specifically dedicated to small-to-medium displacement motorcycles and scooters – and features a 320mm front disc with a radial-mounted four-piston caliper at the front and a single piston caliper on 220mm disc at the rear. The braking system is aided by a two-channel ABS system with switchable modes – for either both wheels or front wheel only. The 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels mount to a 110/70 front and 150/60 rear tyres.

Electronics

The RS 457 is bustling with a range of tech goodies you don’t see standard on bikes in this class. The LED headlight echoes cues of the Aprilia sportsbike family while the front indicators are integrated into the headlight’s light signature. The dashboard is no less than a 5.0-inch TFT (Thin Film Transistor) colour instrument cluster, while the switchgear on the handlebars are elegantly backlit.

The Ride-by-Wire throttle system – which Aprilia was the first to introduce both in MotoGP and on production motorcycles – manages the engine with three riding modes that intervene on power, torque and traction control. They are adjustable to three levels on the fly – Eco, Sport and Rain – a can also be disabled. A bi-directional quickshifter is also available as an accessory. The Bosch ABS system has two settings: ABS on both wheels for road usage and ABS front on and rear off, suggested for racetrack use only. Turning off the rear ABS is done by a long press of the riding mode button only when the bike is stationary. Smartphone connectivity (Aprilia MIA) and navigation are also available

APRILIA RS 457 GENUINE ACCESSORIES

A host of genuine accessories are available for the RS457 ranging from bike covers and USB sockets through to racing brake pads and tyre pressure monitoring system. For more information visit www.aprilia.com/au.

Passenger seat cover                                                              $155.85
Adjustable front brake lever                                               $242.20
Adjustable clutch lever                                                          $246.75
Rear brake Lever                                                                           $305.90
Gear lever                                                                                           $248.50
Brake lever protection                                                             $473.40
Aluminium plate holder                                                         $389
USB charging socket                                                                $38.50
Racing brake pads                                                                      $333.25
Rider footpegs                                                                                $364.15
Front axle protector                                                                   $138.50
Helmet lock                                                                                      $71
TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System)  RS457     $456
High windscreen                                                                          $125
Thermoformed side cases (with holders)              $1154.15
Tank bag                                                                                               $482.50
Lower rider comfort seat                                                      $275
Standard comfort seat                                                           $298
Passenger comfort handle                                                  $128
Outdoor bike cover                                                                    $267.70
Indoor bike cover                                                                         $458.20
Electronic anti-theft                                                                  $287.75
Electronic anti-theft assembly system                    $215.40
MIA device                                                                                         $208.20
MIA device assembly system                                           $73.75
Wheel stickers                                                                               $38.30
Side tank protection stickers                                            $163.85
Central tank protection stickers                                    $66.90
Bi-directional quickshifter                                                  $441.20

2024 Aprilia RS 457 Specifications

Aprilia.com

Price: $12,540 (Replica: $12,940) rideaway
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Colours: Prismatic Dark, Opalescent Light and Racing Stripes
Claimed Power: 35kW@9400rpm
Claimed Torque: 44Nm@6700rpm
Kerb Weight: 175kg
Fuel capacity: 13L
Fuel Consumption Claimed: N/A
Fuel Consumption (measured): N/A

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 270-degree parallel twin-cylinder, four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder, 10.5:1 compression ratio, 69mm x 61.1mm bore x stroke, 457cc, 26mm EFI with Ride-By-Wire throttle Gearbox: Six speed, constant mesh Clutch: Multiplate in oil bath with slipper system

Chassis: Frame: Dual beam cast-aluminium frame
Rake: 24 degrees Trail: 102.4mm
Suspension: 41mm upside-down fork, preload adjustable, 120mm travel (f) steel swingarm, monoshock with adjustable preload, 130mm travel (r) Brakes: 320mm disc, four-piston radial-mounted By-Bre caliper (f), 220mm disc, single-piston By-Bre floating caliper (r) Wheels & Tyres: Aluminium-alloy wheels 3.0 x 17-inch (f) 4.5 x 17-inch (r), Tyres 110/70ZR17 (f) 150/60ZR17 (r)

Dimensions:
Seat height: 800mm
Ground clearance: N/A
Overall width: 760mm
Overall Length: 1983mm
Overall height: 1162mm
Wheelbase: 1349mm

Instruments & Electronics: LED headlight assembly. Engine maps (AEM), dual-channel ABS with anti roll-over system (two maps), traction control (ATC), three riding modes. 5-inch TFT instrument panel. Backlit handlebar controls.

2025 Aprilia RS 457 Gallery

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In Race 1 it was Rocco Landers who climbed onto the top step of the podium after starting from pole position, passing under the chequered flag with a lead of over three seconds over his closest pursuer. Third place in a sprint (42 thousandths gap) for Gus Rodio. Race 2 instead celebrated yet another one-two of the season, with Rodio ahead of Landers in a grid that saw no less than 16 Aprilia RS 660s out of 41 starters. The general classification therefore sees Rodio leading with 200 points while Landers is third at 14 points.

Gus Rodio: “This weekend we struggled a bit with the set-up of the bike in the second sector, the ‘esses’ and the straight. On Sunday we made some progress, but we took a risk with the tyres. We took a step in the right direction with the set-up, but the tyre was a bit slippery. I am satisfied with the results this weekend and we have extended our points lead a little ahead of my home race. At the next round there will be a lot of friends and family there and we will see what happens.”

Rocco Landers: “This is a good track for me and the team set up the bike very well. On Sunday morning I made a mistake and we took the precaution of changing the engine. Unfortunately, this change resulted in a loss of power. I did my best in the race and it was nice to get another one-two.”

Editor’s Note: If you are reading this article on any website other than BikeReview.com.au, please report it to BikeReview via our contact page, as it has been stolen or re-published without authority.

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A relationship, the one between Aprilia and Lorenzo Savadori, which began in 2015 with victory in the FIM Superstock 1000 riding the RSV4 and then continued in World Superbike. Since 2019 Lorenzo has been an integral part of the MotoGP project, contributing to the steady growth of the RS-GP which has now become a stable protagonist among the prototypes. Testing and wild-card races, during which Savadori and the Aprilia Racing Test Team have often brought innovative solutions to the track, play a fundamental role in modern MotoGP, which is increasingly competitive and demanding. 

Lorenzo Savadori: “Aprilia Racing is now a second family for me: we have been together since 2015 and I am very happy to continue this wonderful collaboration. The work I’m doing together with all the guys in the Test Team makes me happy and it’s a source of pride for me to contribute to taking Aprilias to the top of MotoGP, as happened at Silverstone, where there were three RS-GP bikes fighting for the win. Today’s MotoGP is hyper-competitive and you have to try to go further in the development of every little detail and that is also why the job of the Test Rider has become more and more crucial. I am grateful to Aprilia for the trust they put in me for such a delicate role, although clearly every rider’s dream is still to return to full-time racing, to be able to show their potential”.

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Qualifying was based on the average times of the two best riders, specifically Ruka Wada and Italian Samuele Cavalieri, a former Aprilia rider in the Italian Superbike Championship but at his first experience in an endurance race. Starting in fourth place in their category (26th overall), the three riders tackled the eight-hour race by focusing on consistency, avoiding mistakes, especially when a light rain animated the strategies.

The box then decided to refuel at every rider change but change tyres every two stints, a choice that turned out to be correct. On its debut the team also occupied second place in its category for a long time, a result that vanished only 30mins from the chequered flag.

The podium in such a demanding competition as the 8 Hours of Suzuka is nevertheless a remarkable result, which adds to the Aprilia RSV4’s extraordinary palmarés. After 7 World Titles in Superbike and countless trophies in the various categories, the Italian super sports bike continues to make history in road bike racing.

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The Italian V4 was ridden along the legendary uphill track on Thursday and Friday by tester and MotoGP rider Lorenzo Savadori, who sent the crowd into raptures by also performing a spectacular burnout. Incredible then was the turnout at the Aprilia box recreated in the English paddock, testifying to an extremely curious and knowledgeable public.

Activities were unfortunately suspended for Saturday due to the bad weather conditions, but will resumed on Sunday when Raúl Fernandez took on the riding duties of the RS-GP.

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The cleaning operation, carried out yesterday, was largely successful and will allow the rider to recover in view of the first race of the season, scheduled for the weekend of the 24th-26th March.

Dr. XAVIER MIR – MD PhD
“Aleix Espargaró underwent surgery on his right forearm, due to a fibrotic retraction of the forearm fascia with compression of the median nerve in the proximal third of the forearm. An antebrachial fasciotomy and an arch release of the pronator teres muscle was performed using microsurgical techniques. He will start his recovery as soon as tomorrow”.

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A total of 427 laps were clocked over the two days by the RS-GPs of Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales and Lorenzo Savadori, all of whom were involved in both tests related to the current season and in comparisons and simulations that could help the development of the 2023 prototype.

Caught up in a crash at Turn 13, Aleix had to interrupt his test towards the end of today’s morning session, having suffered a micro-fracture to the little finger of his left hand that is not cause for concern ahead of Aragón.

Aleix Espargaró
“The injury will fortunately only require a little rest. We’ll check it tomorrow with more detailed tests but I’m not worried ahead of Aragón. The test overall was positive. We tried some concepts with a view to 2023 but we will have to analyse the data well, because Misano is a track with a lot of grip, especially after a race weekend. So it will be necessary to reconfirm the sensations on other tracks”.

Maverick Viñales
“We have definitely taken a step forward with these tests. I am satisfied with the work Aprilia is doing, both with a view to 2023 and to help me in this season finale. In the second part of the race on Sunday I lost something compared to the best riders and in these two days we have also had the opportunity to analyse that situation and work to improve it.”

Romano Albesiano
“Despite what might come naturally seeing the results of this season, our path to perfect competitiveness is still a long one. We are not satisfied and we won’t be until we manage to fill all the gaps in the RS-GP. We are already working on the ideas that will go on to define the 2023 prototype but the analysis process has to be meticulous, the risk of missteps is always just around the corner. There are concepts that seem to work, others that don’t clearly improve, so after so many laps we will have to be good at analysing the data collected. We are at a good level of performance, but this does not allow us to slow down development.” he finished.

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Read the full race report here…

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The Argentina GP also marked Espargaro’s 200th premier class start, with the stage perfectly set to celebrate in style as the long road from 125s to 250s to MotoGP, back to Moto2, through the CRT era to MotoGP factory rider ended on the top step of the premier class podium.

It didn’t come easy either, with Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin leading the way for much of the race and then battling it out, ultimately forced to settle for second but taking his first podium of the year. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) likewise took his first podium of 2022 and first since Silverstone last season, the Suzuki rider close to the duel ahead but not quite close enough to attack.

For the first time since 2019, it was lights out in Argentina and Martin got away superbly from the middle of the front row for the holeshot. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) launched well to move up into P3 as well, just behind polesitter and older brother Aleix Espargaro as it got close but not full contact close at the front.

The top two, Martin and Aleix Espargaro, soon started to stretch clear. The gap was up to a second pretty rapidly as Pol Espargaro and Rins battled past Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and a whole host of riders sat line astern. Reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), meanwhile, had dropped back to P13 from the second row, with Indonesian GP winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) behind him and the likes of Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) all making moves in the initial freight train.

The gap at the front extended and extended fast. Martin and Aleix Espargaro soon had a buffer of two seconds to Rins and Pol Espargaro, with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) into P5 ahead of Marini, who in turn had Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Bagnaia and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for close company.

Lap 10 of 25 saw Aleix Espargaro run wide at Turn 1, losing 0.4s, and then the Aprilia man ran wide at Turn 5 – two mistakes in five corners costing the Spaniard 0.9s. That left Rins just a second in arrears as the Suzuki rider kept chipping away at the gap and Martin’s lead, with 15 laps to go, was up to just over a second. The response from Aleix Espargaro? The fastest lap of the Grand Prix – a 1:39.375, 0.4s quicker than Martin.

After Zarco crashed out earlier, the next to suffer a crash was then Pol Espargaro, rider ok. That promoted Mir to P4, but the 2020 World Champion had two seconds to bridge if he wanted to fight his teammate Rins for the final podium spot.

Up front meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro had regrouped and was now back to where he was before the double error – 0.3s behind Martin – and the first hint of a move came with eight laps to go. The Aprilia moved out the slipstream and was ahead, but it was only briefly. Hard on the anchors, Espargaro couldn’t get his RS-GP stopped at the apex and Martin was back through.

A lap later, it was copy/paste at Turn 5. Still no way through for Espargaro, who looked like he had a bit of pace in his pocket over Martin. But then, at the third attempt at Turn 5, the Aprilia was through. With four and a half laps to go, Aprilia and Espargaro were leading. With three to go, Martin hadn’t been dropped by Espargaro, and Rins was now 0.8s behind too. Two to go: 0.2s split the top two, and Rins was still just under a second behind.

Heading onto the last lap though, it looked like the stage was set. Espargaro had been able to give himself just over half a second of breathing space, and a monumentally huge lap was incoming for the number 41 and Aprilia – with just 4.8km of asphalt separating him from a dream debut victory. Turn 5 was safely negotiated. Turn 7 too. Three corners left quickly become two. Turn 13 was safely negotiated, no attack from Martin incoming, and finally, flicking his RS-GP left, Espargaro took the chequered flag in P1 for the very first time, handing Aprilia their first premier class victory and adding another entry into the record books.

Just behind, Martin had no answer in the end for Espargaro but second place is crucial to kickstart his World Championship after two DNFs in Qatar and Indonesia, putting him on the board. Rins completed the podium for his first visit to the rostrum in 2022, and in the end, Mir was only 0.5s away from his teammate and podium finish. That has put Team Suzuki Ecstar top of the teams’ standings, with Ducati top in the consctructors’ thanks to Martin. Aleix Espargaro, meanwhile, leads the riders’ Championship for the first time.

Bagnaia put in an impressive Sunday salvage to take P5, the Italian getting the better of Brad Binder. Viñales enjoyed by far his best weekend yet with Aprilia as he takes home P7, ahead of former teammate Quartararo. The reigning Champion took a lonely P8 in the end.

Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) upped the rookie ante with an impressive ninth place as he takes over at the top in the fight for Rookie of the Year, and the Italian beat compatriots Bastianini and Marini to it too. The ‘Beast’ loses the points lead after a P10, with Marini slipping down the order to P11. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) fended off Oliveira for P12, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) behind them as the Australian couldn’t make progress on Sunday afternoon and picked up a lowly P14. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) claimed the final point in P15.

History made and party begun, that’s a wrap and we have some new winners in town as the paddock packs up and heads for Texas. What awaits in the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas and, maybe crucially, who? The top step has only belonged to two, so tune in next week to see the next chapter in the story – with the sport also celebrating a very special milestone: 500 Grands Prix of the FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna Racing together.

Aleix Espargaro: “I’m extremely happy about this weekend in Argentina. Overall in Qatar and Indonesia I also felt very strong. I felt competitive, I think we had a solid weekend. Honestly, the race was not easy. I expected it to be a bit easier as this morning I felt very strong. But I think I had a smart race, and finally after this long period with Aprilia we achieved the victory and we are leading the championship. This is like a dream. We keep our feet on the ground, but I think we truly deserve this!”

MotoGP Podium (Full Results Here)

1 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – 41’36.198
2 Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) – Ducati – +0.807
3 Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – +1.330

Moto2
Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) marches on in style in the 2022 Moto2 World Championship, putting in another stellar performance in Argentina for win number two of the season. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia celebrated a double podium as Somkiat Chantra took back to back rostrum finishes, this time in second, and Ai Ogura fended off Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) on the final lap to finish P3. It’s the first time two former Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup riders have shared the class podium. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) crashed after contact with Vietti at Turn 13, deemed a racing incident.

Polesitter Aldeguer got away the best, but alongside him, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was more sluggish. A bad start then turned into a disastrous start for the number 37, as he made some contact with Ogura’s rear wheel at Turn 1 and crashed out of contention. Vietti made a great start from the third row to move up, the only rider keeping tabs on Aldeguer in the opening exchanges.

At Turn 1 on Lap 4, Vietti then carved past Aldeguer to take the lead. Chantra was holding third, the Thai rider a second away from Aldeguer’s rear wheel, as Canet also made great progress to climb up to P4. Vietti, Aldeguer and Chantra seemed to be holding station. But with 16 to go, drama struck. Vietti was slightly wide at Turn 13 and sniffing an opportunity, Aldeguer stuck his front wheel up the inside. The two came together and the rider coming off worse was Alduguer, who was up on his feet but out of the race.

Up ahead, Vietti also now had his hands full with Chantra. Canet was P3 but over a second off second, with Ogura keeping tabs on the Spaniard in P4 – and the Japanese rider was the fastest rider in the lead group. For a second time, Vietti was then wide at Turn 13, and this time it did allow Chantra to come through and take the lead. On the following lap though, Chantra was wide at the same corner, putting Vietti back in charge. Chantra stayed settled in behind Vietti for a number of laps then, with the action shifting to behind between Ogura and Canet. The battle allowed Vietti and Chantra sail 1.7s up the road from the duo, and with five laps to go, it looked like it was Vietti vs Chantra for victory.

With just over two laps to go, Vietti pulled the pin and the gap went up over a second heading onto the last lap. Chantra, in turn, was 3.8s clear of teammate Ogura, but the Japanese rider was absolutely not clear of Canet. With a place on the podium up for grabs, the Spaniard was swarming all over the back of him and lunged at Turn 5. Canet was wide though, allowing Ogura back through, but the Spaniard then tried again at Turn 7 and managed to hold it around the outside of Turn 8.

As it already had in plenty Moto3 battles, it would come down to the penultimate corner. As Vietti sailed over the finish line for win two from three and Chantra secured his first back to back podiums, Ogura shot up the inside of Canet with a classic harsh but clean move, and the Honda Team Asia rider kept it pinned to the line to make it the first time two former ATC riders have shared the podium in the intermediate class.

Finishing less than a second behind Canet came Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) in P5, which marks a solid bounce back for the British rider after his Indonesian GP disappointment as he got the better of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) in the closing stages. Arbolino claimed a fantastic P6, with the Italian coming home over four seconds clear of reigning Moto3 World Champion Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P7. Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team), Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) closed out the top 10.

Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) takes a P11 home from his first visit to Termas, the American now gets set for his home Grand Prix next weekend. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), rookie Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Marcos Ramirez (MV Agusta Forward Racing) took the final points on offer.

Moto2 Podium (Full Results Here)

1 Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Kalex – 39’44.098
2 Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – +1.538
3 Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – +5.703

As last laps go, Argentina was pretty special from Sergio Garcia (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team). The now-Championship leader went from third to first and attacked Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) with some penultimate corner poetry to take his first win of the season. The Italian was quick to congratulate the move despite being forced to settle for second, once more banking some serious points as he and Garcia pull clear at the top. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) went from front row to podium despite a Long Lap penalty the Japanese rider had to serve from Indonesia, finally putting bad luck to bed.

It was a perfect getaway from pole for Garcia, who comfortably led into Turn 1, but a slower start for teammate Izan Guevara on the outside of the front row. However, despite dropping to P5 on the opening lap, Guevara expertly picked his way back through and on Lap 2 at Turn 5, took the lead from Garcia. The two GASGAS riders immediately started stretching clear as second on the grid Sasaki took his Long Lap Penalty.

Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) set the fastest lap of the race on Lap 3 and had climbed from outside the top 10 into the top three, but with plenty of squabbling going on, the GASGAS leading duo were nearly a second up the road. By 14 laps to go though, Masia had bridged the gap and had Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) in tow.

A leading quintet of Guevara, Garcia, Masia, Migno and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) held station at the front, but drama then unfolded for race leader Guevara. At Turn 3 with 12 laps to go, the sophomore’s machine said no more and through no fault of his own, Guevara was out of the race, dropping down the Championship standings in the process. Meanwhile, Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) had made his way up to P5 from a tougher qualifying, and on Lap 11 of 21, the Italian snapped up a two-for-one deal at Turn 13 – Moreira and Masia dispatched, Foggia was now P3 and in the hunt for the win.

Turn 13 then staged arguably the biggest drama of the race. Trying to go through a door that wasn’t fully open, Migno collided with Masia and both were down with just over five laps to go. That left Garcia leading Leopard duo Foggia and Tatsuki Suzuki by half a second, with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Sasaki in the top five, the latter after clawing his way back from outside the points.

After reviewing the incident between Migno and Masia from every angle, the FIM MotoGP Stewards deemed it a racing incident with some responsibility shared between both riders. Masia did however receive a warning for the “touch” to Migno’s helmet after the crash.

With two to go, Foggia was closing in on Garcia. Half a second became 0.2s in a couple of laps and at Turn 12, Foggia led. The Italian kept the lead onto the final lap from Garcia, with Suzuki, Sasaki and Rossi in the top five, but Garcia then found himself in the firing line as Suzuki sliced past to make it a Leopard 1-2. The Spaniard was able to respond, however, replying at Turn 9 and then locking on to Foggia just ahead. 

There was. The number 11’s burgeoning reputation as a rider who will always go full send on Sunday – and within the limit – has been well-earned and Argentina would prove no different. Slicing up the inside at the final corner, the GASGAS rider got it done, kept it, and gassed it to the line for victory with Foggia hot on his heels. Just behind them, Sasaki dived up the inside of Suzuki too and made that stick, back on the podium despite a Long Lap to turn proven speed in 2022 into points. Suzuki, for his part, was given a drop one position penalty for track limits on the last lap too – so he’s classified fifth as Rossi takes P4.

Impressive rookie Moreira continued to earn that moniker as the Brazilian took P6, just ahead of a big step forward for 2021 FIM JuniorGP Champion Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as he gets back to full fitness after injury struggles in preseason. Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) and his teammate Joel Kelso rounded out the top 10.

Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) were P11 and P12 respectively, the duo finished ahead of Red Bull KTM Tech3 duo Adrian Fernandez and Deniz Öncü – both of whom had to take Long Lap Penalties for shortcuts. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) was the final point scorer in P15.

Moto3 Podium (Full Results Here)

1 Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – 38:23.433
2 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – +0.146
3 Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) – Husqvarna – +0.375

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After three days dedicated to the shakedown (the first real test of the new prototypes), it was time for the entire MotoGP class to have two days of official testing. It was clear by the end of the sessions that the competition is still extremely fierce, with 19 riders all within one second of one another. In any case, the stopwatch confirmed that Aprilia is on the right path, with Aleix second, just 26 thousandths of a second behind the leader and beating the track record. Maverick was also fast straight away, just 130 thousandths of a second behind, riding his RS-GP to fifth place.

However, although the times may not provide the most accurate picture of the situation, since they were achieved by all during true time attacks on soft tyres, feedback on the feeling is a different story. And this is why Aprilia is confident as they head to the new Indonesian Mandalika track for the second and final pre-season tests.

Aleix Espargaró: “I must thank the staff in Noale. Albesiano and all the engineers did a good job. From the first time I swung a leg over, during a photo shoot, I noticed how sleek and compact the new RS-GP is, and I know how hard it is to achieve this result. The ergonomics, the frame and all the new features make it extremely agile, letting me improve on corners speed, especially in fast turns. However, we still need to consider that this is just the first test and that we are all extremely close. The current level of MotoGP is absolutely incredible. We’ll keep working and I can’t wait to turn laps on the new Mandalika circuit too.”

Maverick Viñales: “I’m pleased with this first test. I felt extremely comfortable on the bike. I was especially surprised by our race pace, with used tyres, whereas on the flying lap, I am still unable to fully exploit the bike’s potential. When you try to find the limit, and you have to do that often in MotoGP today, the feeling has to be more than perfect, but I am still making a few mistakes. I need to get used to the way this bike behaves when I’m looking for maximum performance and that’s a process we’re working on.”

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