Aprilia Racing: first kilometers of testing for the Tuareg racing prototype

Il prototype di Aprilia Tuareg designed to race in the desert, it covered the first kilometers of tests with good results reported by both official drivers aprilia-racing, Jacopo Cerutti and Francesco Montanari. Pilots who are also engaged in the Italian Motorally Championship.

The news

A new progress towards the return of the Aprilia brand to the great African raids. There racing variant of the Aprilia Tuareg it is equipped with Öhlins by Andreani suspension, specific Sprint Filter air filter and full SC Project titanium exhaust.

Made by aprilia-racing with the collaboration of GCorse by the Guareschi brothers, this example defined for racing in desert places is based on the versatile qualities of the Tuareg 660, making targeted modifications for the tough challenges of rally raids. Also highlighted is the collaboration with Metzeler, a brand specializing in tires that observes the panorama of Adventure-type twin-cylinder models with interest and has selected Aprilia to develop the products for engagement in rally raid challenges.

In the first phase of development of the model, the work was focused on the chassis, considering a new decomposable frame and revised geometries to promote stability at high speeds and greater suspension travel, as reported. Development will continue in the coming months with a first engine development step and the adoption of a first additional tank.

Previewed to the public on 27st May on the occasion of the feast of Aprilia All Stars, the Tuareg aimed at rally raid activity, as mentioned, rests on the technical basis of the well-known model, strictly derived from the series, and a great protagonist in this period in the Italian Motorally Championship, which is the terrain selected to direct the development of the “Back to Africa” project.

Having carried out the first tests at the Riola Sardo cross-track, last weekend Aprilia Racing and GCorse took part in the 5th and 6th round of the Italian Motorally Championship in Umbertide. The two official Aprilia Tuareg 660s on Metzeler tires are lined up, driven by Jacopo Cerutti and Francesco Montanari, once again protagonists in G-1000 class for multi-cylinder motorcycles over 600 cc.

After a second place in Saturday's rally, affected by bad weather, the following day Jacopo Cerutti took the top spot in the G-1000, placing equally well in the overall with a sixth place, after an interesting comparison with the expert Alessandro Botturi on Yamaha. A success that allows the driver to confirm his position at the top of the standings ahead of the final event, scheduled for the end of October. Francesco Montanari also stood out, finishing sixth in Saturday's test and third in Sunday's.

The journey of the Aprilia Tuareg 660 also continued in Umbria in GPX Italian Championship, created to allow many enthusiasts to access the discipline, via navigation with GPS track. The two Tuareg 660s involved in the GPX series are overall standard, equipped only with targeted modifications to face the challenge. Michele Pradelli reached the podium twice, coming second and third in both scheduled tests. Paolo Pettinari, on the other hand, always placed sixth, results that allow him to maintain third position in the general championship ranking with three tests to be held on 20, 21 and 22 October in Sardinia.

Furthermore, on the occasion of the Umbertide stage, over 50 motorcyclists they got on the saddle Aprilia Tuareg 660 for a particular off-road test ride on the routes surrounding the Motorally event. The participants were welcomed by a technical presentation by the brothers Gianfranco and Vittoriano Guareschi, alongside the bikes involved in the race.