45°32′45″N12°04′15″E / 45.5458747°N 12.0709374°E /45.5458747; 12.0709374
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle |
| Founded | 1945; 80 years ago (1945) |
| Founder | Alberto Beggio |
| Headquarters | , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rocco Sabelli (CEO) |
| Products | Motorcycles & Scooters |
| Parent | Piaggio Group |
| Website | aprilia.com |
Aprilia is an Italianmotorcycle andscooter manufacturer inNoale, Italy, founded by Alberto Beggio.[1]
Aprilia, named after thepre-warLancia Aprilia,[2] was founded after theSecond World War by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio as a bicycle production factory atNoale,Italy, in the province ofVenice. Alberto's son,Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle".[3] The first production Apriliamopeds were named Colibrì, Daniela, and Packi. Aprilia later produced amotocross bike in 1970 called the Scarabeo. Produced until the end of the 1970s, the Scarabeo came in 50 and 125 cc versions.[4]
In 1977, Ivan Alborghetti fromMilan, Italy won the Italian 125 and 250 cc motocross championships on Aprilia motorcycles. In1978 125cc Motocross World Championship, Alborghetti closed the season with a third-place result in the Swiss Grand Prix and sixth place overall in the World Championship. In the 1980s, Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc and in 1981, Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine. In 1983, Aprilia launched the St 125 road bike and in 1984, they launched an improved model called STX as well as an enduro, called the ET 50.[5][6][better source needed]
In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian companyRotax. In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX. In 1986, Aprilia launched the AF1, a small sports model; and the Tuareg, a large tanked bike for African rallies like theDakar Rally. Aprilia factory rider Philippe Berlatier contended for the trials world championship reaching fifth place, andLoris Reggiani rode an Aprilia GP 250 with Rotax engine to sixth place in the road racing World Championship. Two seasons later, on August 30, 1987, atSan Marino Grand Prix in Misano Loris Reggiani's AF1 won the first World Speed Championship.[7]
In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics. Later, in 1992 Aprilia riderAlessandro Gramigni won the World 125 Road Racing Championship title. Also in 1992, Tommy Ahvala won theWorld Trials Championship on an Aprilia Climber. Since then, Aprilia has 124 times won 125 and 250 cc class Grand Prix, 15 Road Racing World Championship titles, and 16 European speed titles. Many world champions started on Aprilia such asBiaggi,Capirossi,Gramigni, Locatelli, Sakata andRossi.[7]
In 1995, Aprilia commissionedPhilippe Starck to design the Motò which was shown inNew York's Modern Art Museum. Also in 1995, Aprilia launched thetwo stroke RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes. In 1998, Aprilia launched theRSV Mille, a 1000ccV-Twin Superbike, and theFalco, a 1000cc V-Twinsport tourer with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of aRotax 1000cc engine.[citation needed]
In 1999, Aprilia entered World Superbike Championship racing with its RSV Mille, and during 2000, Aprilia acquired Moto-Guzzi and Laverda, both historic heritage Italian marques. In 2000, Aprilia launched the 50 cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also theRST Futura, a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; anadventure touring motorcycle. Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000 cc V-Twin.[citation needed]
Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched theRSV Mille Tuono which was essentially an RSV Mille with motocross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year. In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA, to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.[citation needed]
With the acquisition by Piaggio, the new President of Aprilia isRoberto Colaninno (President of Piaggio & C.), and the managing director is Rocco Sabelli. The son of the founder, Ivano Beggio, was the Honorary President and died on 13 March 2018.[8] On 15 August 2010, Aprilia became the most successful motorcycle racing brand in history, surpassing fellow ItalianMV Agusta with a record 276th victory.[9]
Alberto's son,Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle".[10]
The first production Apriliamopeds were named "Colibrì", "Daniela", and "Packi".
In the 1980s, Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc.
In 1981, Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine.
In 1983, Aprilia launched the St 125 road bike.
In 1984, they launched an improved model called STX, as well as an enduro, called the ET 50.[11][12]
In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian companyRotax.
In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX.
In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics.
In the 1990s, Aprilia entered the scooter market starting in 1990 with Italy's first all-plastic scooter, the Amico.
In 1992, Aprilia introduced the Amico LK and the two stroke Pegaso 125, both withcatalytic converters.
In 1993, Aprilia launched a large diameter wheel scooter reusing the name Scarabeo with a four-stroke, four-valve engine.
Later, Aprilia launched more scooters such as the Leonardo, the SR and the Gulliver.[citation needed]
In 1995, Aprilia commissionedPhilippe Starck to design the Motò which was shown inNew York's Modern Art Museum.
Also in 1995, Aprilia launched thetwo stroke RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes.
In 1998, Aprilia launched theRSV Mille, a 1000ccV-Twin Superbike, and theFalco, a 1000cc V-Twinsport tourer with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of aRotax 1000cc engine.[citation needed]
In 2000, Aprilia launched the 50 cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also theRST Futura, a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; anadventure touring motorcycle.
Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000 cc V-Twin.[citation needed]
Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched theRSV Mille Tuono which was essentially an RSV Mille with motocross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year.
Aprilia produced amotocross bike in 50 and 125 cc versions in the 1970s called the Scarabeo.
Since in the 1980s, Aprilia has also produced largesportbikes such as the 1,000 ccV-twinRSV Mille and theV4RSV4.
In 1986, Aprilia launched the AF1, a small sports model; and the Tuareg, a large tanked bike for African rallies like theDakar Rally.
During 2000, Aprilia acquiredMoto Guzzi andLaverda, both historic heritage Italian marques.[13]
In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA,[14] to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.
With the acquisition by Piaggio, the new President of Aprilia isRoberto Colaninno (President of Piaggio & C.), and the managing director is Rocco Sabelli. The son of the founder, Ivano Beggio, was the Honorary President and died on 13 March 2018.[15]
 | |
| 2025 name | Aprilia Racing |
|---|---|
| Base | Scorzè, Italy |
| Principal | Massimo Rivola |
| Racing manager | Paolo Bonora |
| Rider(s) | MotoGP: 1.Jorge Martin 72.Marco Bezzecchi 32.Lorenzo Savadori (test rider) |
| Motorcycle | Aprilia RS-GP |
| Tyres | Michelin |
| Riders' Championships | – |
Despite being a relatively small company by global motorcycling standards, Aprilia is very active inmotorcycle sports.
Aprilia has contested many road racing formulae, including the now-defunct 125 cc,[16] 250 cc and 500 cc[16][17]Grand Prix classes ofFIM World Championships.
Aprilia have also been in and out of theMotoGP andSuperbike World Championship - as a factory team[18][19][20] and a constructor, having partnered withGresini Racing (from 2015[21] to 2021) andTrackhouse Racing (since 2024)[22] - alongside other commitments.
Aprilia entered the Superbike World Championship in1999 using a homologation special version of their V-twin road bikeRSV Mille.
They were third in the riders' championship in2000 with riderTroy Corser, and third in manufacturers' points and fourth in rider points both in2001 with Corser and in2002 withNoriyuki Haga. Aprilia retired from the series at the end of that season.[citation needed]
In February 2008, Aprilia debuted a V-4superbike, theRSV4, for the2009 Superbike World Championship.[23]
Aprilia won its first Superbike world championship in2010 withMax Biaggi, claiming both the riders and the manufacturers titles.[citation needed]
| Year | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 |  Max Biaggi | Aprilia RSV4 1000 |
| 2012 | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | |
| 2014 |  Sylvain Guintoli |
Aprilia debuted in the FIMSupermoto World Championship in 2004 and since then it has won many titles in both S1 and S2 classes.[citation needed]
| Year | Class | Champion | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | S2 | Jerome Giraudo | Aprilia SXV 450 |
| 2006 | Thierry Van Den Bosch | ||
| 2011 | S1 | Adrien Chareyre | Aprilia MXV-S 450 |
Aprilia made their international racing debut in theMotocross World Championship competing in the 125cc class from1976 until 1981 with a best result being a fifth place in the1979 season with rider Corrado Maddi.[24]
| Year | Class | Team name | Bike | Riders | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | F. laps | Points | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MotoGP | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia RS-GP |  Maverick Vinales | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 11th |
| Aleix Espargaró | 20 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 212 | 4th | ||||
| 2023 | Maverick Viñales | 20 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 204 | 7th | |||
| Aleix Espargaró | 20 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 206 | 6th | ||||
| Lorenzo Savadori | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (12) | 24th | ||||
| 2024 | Maverick Viñales | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 189* | 7th* | |||
| Aleix Espargaró | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 134* | 11th* | ||||
| Lorenzo Savadori | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (0)* | 28th* |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Motorcycle | Tyres | Riders | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Points | RC | Points | TC | Points | MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Aprilia RS-GP | M | QAT | INA | ARG | AME | POR | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | RSM | ARA | JPN | THA | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||
| Aleix Espargaró | 4 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 10 | Ret | 212 | 4th | 334 | 3rd | 248 | 3rd | |||
| Maverick Viñales | 12 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 7 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 16 | Ret | 122 | 11th | |||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori | Ret | 21 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 0 | NC | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | POR | ARG | AME | SPA | FRA | ITA | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | CAT | RSM | IND | JPN | INA | AUS | THA | MAL | QAT | VAL | |||||||||
| Maverick Viñales | 25 | 127 | 4 | Ret7 | Ret9 | 12 | Ret | Ret7 | 53 | 68 | 23 | 56 | 88 | 199 | 24 | 11 | Ret | 11 | 46 | 104 | 204 | 7th | 410 | 5th | 326 | 3rd | |||
| Aleix Espargaró | 96 | 15 | Ret4 | 5 | 58 | 68 | 169 | 34 | 15 | 97 | 11 | 128 | Ret | 5 | 10 | 8 | 85 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 206 | 6th | |||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori | 18 | 11 | 19 | 5 (12) | 24th | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | POR | ARG | AME | SPA | FRA | ITA | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | CAT | RSM | IND | JPN | INA | AUS | THA | MAL | QAT | VAL | |||||||||
| Maverick Viñales | 109 | Ret1 | 11 | 9 | 53 | 128 | 85 | 53 | 127 | 138 | 7 | Ret | 16 | 6 | 67 | Ret9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 189* | 7th* | 335* | 4th* | 285 | 3rd | ||||
| Aleix Espargaró | 83 | 88 | 75 | Ret | 95 | 41 | 119 | DNS | WD | 63 | 93 | 10 | Ret | 8 | Ret | 9 | 168 | 9 | 13 | 134* | 11th* | ||||||||
| Lorenzo Savadori | Ret | 21 | DNS | 20 | 0 (0)* | 28th* | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Aprilia models are:
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