FACTORY RACER

In 2012, Aprilia armed its RSV4 models with a WSB-derived electronics package.

Having already secured one WSB title (in 2010 with Max Biaggi at the helm), in the early 2010s Aprilia, with its new V4 superbike, was starting to make a serious nuisance of itself to Italian rival Ducati.

Not only was it threatening to amass a collection of WSB titles where Ducati was struggling (the 1098R won in 2011, but that was it until 2022, whereas the RSV4 won in 2010, 2012 and 2014), it was also pushing boundaries in terms of tech – and this investment was quickly filtering down to its road bikes. Ducati may have grabbed the headlines with its R or SP models, but these were costly homologation specials. Aprilia, on the other hand, took WSB tech and transferred it directly to the customer’s bike... which is exactly what happened in 2012, when its RSV4 sportsbike received its first upgrade...Technically, Aprilia performance ride control (APRC) had actually arrived a year earlier on the limited edition Biaggi rep, but in 2012 it made its way not only to the top-spec Factory model, but also the lower-spec R version. And what a package!

Boasting eight-level traction control (with angle sensitivity), wheelie control, launch control, a quickshifter (up only) and three power modes, APRC was a ground-breaking system that even racers struggled to distinguish from their WSBwinning machinery – and it was on a road bike! Not only that, a V4 road bike that, in top-spec trim with its Öhlins suspension, lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes, was £2000 less than the 1199 Panigale S. But is what made the RSV4 so special still impressive nowadays? It’s a 160bhp V4 superbike with a WSB-spec chassis and electronics package... what do you think?