Aprilia launches 2012 World Superbike campaign in Milan
The Aprilia Racing Team officially launched its 2012 World Superbike campaign today at the Spazio Broletto 13 Piaggio Group showroom in downtown Milan, Italy. The Italian team can count on five time world champion Max Biaggi, the only Italian in history to have won (in 2010 on his Aprilia RSV4) the WSBK championship wreath, accompanied by Eugene Laverty, the twenty-five year old rider from Northern Ireland who had an excellent 2011 season in his championship début.
"It doesn't matter how many seasons we have under our belts and how many titles we've won. At the beginning of a new season I am always motivated to the maximum - stated Max Biaggi - Besides that, I must say that for 2012 I am even more focused on the task ahead, after what happened last year. I'm sure we can still play an important part in this Championship but at the same time I am aware of the fact that the level of competition, with the many team changes among my rivals, has increased even more. We'll have to work hard and never stop growing, but I can assure you that this year once again, everyone will have to deal with us".
Eugene Laverty on the other hand, had this to say: "This is my second Superbike season - my first one with Aprilia - but during the tests in Portimao last Autumn I felt comfortable right from the start. From the very first laps astride the RSV4 I had a good feeling with the bike, the Team also made me feel like part of the family straight away. I still need to get a lot of laps in to really familiarise myself with my new Aprilia and I won't underestimate the difficulties that always arise when you change teams, but I definitely want to rack up as many podiums as possible and bring home some victories. Although the most important goal is to continue growing and getting faster.
Aprilia (Piaggio Group) is one of the most victorious sport motorcycle brands, having collected an astonishing 49 world titles in its brief history: 38 in MotoGP (where it also boasts a record of 294 GP wins), 2 very recent victories in Superbike and 9 in off-road disciplines.
