Aprilia Tuareg 660: a central model in the project to return to large rally raids managed by Aprilia Racing

The return of Aprilia in challenging rally raids it is scheduled for 2024, across the “Back to Africa” project managed by Aprilia Racing in which the new Tuaregs 660 appears central.

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A return to off-road challenges with a motorbike with an evocative name, after the experiences lived in the Dakar between 2010 and 2012. Aprilia made its debut in competitions precisely by taking part in comparisons of this type and since the first 70s models such as the Scarabeo a certain aptitude for off-roading was noted. In 1974 the brand's first racing bike was a 125 cross. In 1977 the first Italian titles came in the 125 and 250 classes, then in 1978 the first podiums until it became the protagonist of the World Cross Championship.

The brand subsequently landed in the asphalt challenges, those of the MotoGP, starting another path for Aprilia Racing in 1985, meanwhile the first world title came from the trial in 1992. There will be another seven world triumphs in the off-road panorama, remembering from 2004 to 2011 saw successes with the twin-cylinder SXV 450 and 550, highlighted in the Supermoto Championship with the conquest of three Riders' and four Manufacturers' titles.

The first appearance at the Paris-Dakar with the historic Tuareg, however, took place in 1989. The Noale brand returned to the legendary challenge only in 2010 with the twin-cylinder RXV Rally 450, taking part in three consecutive editions of the Dakar until 2012, as mentioned.

The new racing model Aprilia Tuareg 660 will be defined by aprilia-racing with the technical collaboration of GCorse of the brothers Gianfranco and Vittoriano Guareschi, who have already worked on the Tuareg during 2022 by participating in the Italian Motorally Championship. The commitment will continue this year too, during a season focused on the development of a project with interesting premises. They are also busy along the way Jacopo Cerutti, a young rider from 1989 who will bring his experience to Aprilia Racing. The Como native is a multiple Italian Motorally champion and, among other goals achieved, has four Italian titles and a European Enduro title under his belt, and he also has six participations in the Dakar under his belt. Cerutti will be joined by Francesco Montanari, a national level enduro rider who last year already showed interesting skills on his debut in the Tricolore Motorally. There are two Tuareg 660s lined up in the Italian Motorally Championship, entrusted to Cerutti and Montanari.

Together with the Tuareg project managed by Aprilia Racing, Aprilia will appear with its own structure on the racing grounds of the Italian Motorally, providing support to those who will participate on Tuareg 660 in the new "entry level" GPX class, created to make the challenge more accessible.

Photo: Aprilia Racing – Piaggio Group