Aprilia has four MotoGP riders whose contracts expire at the end of this year – Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales in the factory team, and Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández in Trackhouse Racing. The idea is to keep the quartet, but Aprilia Racing’s executive director, Massimo Rivola, doesn’t want to be distracted.
The Italian emphasized his preference for stability and satisfaction with the current riders, but also admitted that he needs to be prepared in case a rival signs an Aprilia rider:
– I think the crazy market of this year will start very early. Maybe it has already started. I always say that for me stability means performance, also because when you change a rider is likely that you change de crew chief, maybe some mechanics. Most of the time the rider moves with the people he trusts. So for me I should say again I’m super happy with the four riders we have. But if someone comes and steal our rider I need to be ready to react. Let’s say I’m happy but I will not sleep.
Asked if this means he won’t actively be looking for new riders, despite staying alert, Rivola replied: ‘Yes, but at the same time I don’t want to sleep. So I need to pay attention and check the market, where is going, what is being done’.