Despite qualifying for a 22 pound (10 kilo) weight advantage versus the 4 and 5 cylinder machines, it now appears that last year’s Aprilia Cube (3-cylinder) MotoGP machine was heavier than the V-5 Honda, for instance. The Cube has been on a serious diet ever since Colin Edwards was hired by Aprilia to team up with Noriyuki Haga for the 2003 MotoGP campaign, however.
With the Cube now under the weight limit for the 4s and 5s, Edwards and Haga are definitely on the gas and ready to be competitive in the upcoming season. Edwards looks particularly fast and comfortable. Testing with two Honda teams this week at Mugello proves the point.
Edwards, who had never before ridden Mugello, ended up (after staying an extra day) with a 1:52.5 lap time — virtually on the pace with Honda riders Tohru Ukawa and Max Biaggi, and half a second quicker than former 250cc World champion Daijiro Kato. Aprilia teammate Haga posted a 1:52.6, also quicker than Kato and right in the mix with the fast Honda boys. Considering that Ukawa owns the official Mugello lap record with a time of 1:52.6, you can see just how far Aprilia has come.
