WITH GRIT AND DETERMINATION LEON HASLAM TAKES TWO FOURTH PLACE FINISHES AT ASSEN

DOUBLE SIXTH PLACE FINISH FOR JORDI TORRES, PENALISED BY TWO IMPERFECT STARTS

APRILIA WINS SUPERSTOCK 1000. SAVADORI DOMINATES WITH THE RSV4 RF IN ITS ROOKIE YEAR IN THE CATEGORY

THE OTHER RSV4 RF RIDDEN BY KEVIN CALIA FINISHES FIFTH

Assen (Holland), 19 April 2015 – The finishing order for the two Superbike races at Assen were identical, putting on a lively show for all the fans that came out to the Dutch track.

For Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils it was an exciting Sunday with Leon Haslam in the leading pack and Jordi Torres riding two great comeback races after starting from the third row of the grid.

Haslam battled no-hold-barred in the pack that decided the podium, managing several times to close the gap behind the leaders and entertaining the fans with a series of spectacular scuffles. Especially in Race 2, where the English rider’s pace at about 10 laps from the end seemed to promise an attack for a podium finish. Only front tyre wear, particularly stressed both by the characteristics of the circuit and his riding style, kept Leon from finishing on the podium, making him settle for two fourth place finishes.

This confirms Haslam’s hold on second place in the overall Rider standings, the same position that Aprilia holds in the Manufacturer rankings.

Leon Haslam: “The two races were quite similar. I had good pace and was able to keep up with the leaders, but in the final laps I lost that feeling with the front tyre that was wearing quite a bit on the right side. Even using the harder solution the situation didn’t change, maybe also because I had to push quite hard. We’ll have to analyse the data to figure out where we can improve in this area. I’m a bit cross because I felt like I could have battled at least for the podium, but instead I lost it on the last turn.”

The pace that Jordi Torres demonstrated in the centre part of the two races was encouraging. The end result, a double sixth place finish, was due almost entirely to the initial laps where the Spanish rookie is still unable to be incisive and take full advantage of the new tyres. In these first apprenticeship rounds Jordi has improved consistently. Now his feeling with the RSV4 RF is solid, so the only thing lacking is the experience he needs to battle at the top of a new and demanding category like World Superbike.

Jordi Torres: “We raced two cloned races. Unfortunately I am still lacking that feeling to be able to push in the first 6-7 laps with a new tyre and a full tank. Actually in the middle phases of the race I had a good pace, at the same level as the leading riders, but it’s hard to make up the time lost at the start. My RSV4 was great on this track; I just need to be more aggressive from the start. If I take better advantage of Superpole and start farther up front on the grid I could make a play for the podium, or at least battle with the riders up front.”

APRILIA RSV4 WINS IN THE SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP.

It was a race to remember for Lorenzo Savadori in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Starting from the pole position he earned yesterday, the 2014 season runner-up led the race from the opening laps. After a red flag and consequent restart, Savadori kept his pace and rode the Team Nuova M2 Racing RSV4 RF to victory, also putting the race fast lap on the sheets and moving into first place in the overall rider standings. Taking a win as early as the second race of the season is an exciting result for the team and for Aprilia who is making its début with the RSV4 RF in this category, the one closest to factory bikes.

Kevin Calia rode a great comeback race, starting from the fifteenth spot on the grid. With an impressive pace and a series of spectacular passes, Calia finished fifth, just barely missing fourth place. This is further confirmation of just how competitive the new RSV4 RF is.

RACE 1

1. Rea (Kawasaki)
2. Davies (Kawasaki)
3. VD Mark (Honda)
4. Haslam (Aprilia)
5. Sykes (Kawasaki)
6. Torres (Aprilia)
7. Fores (Ducati)
8. Guintoli (Honda)
9. Terol (Ducati)
10. Camier (MV Agusta)

RACE 2

1. Rea (Kawasaki)
2. Davies (Kawasaki)
3. VD Mark (Honda)
4. Haslam (Aprilia)
5. Sykes (Kawasaki)
6. Torres (Aprilia)
7. Guintoli (Honda)
8. Fores (Ducati)
9. Lowes (Suzuki)
10. Camier (MV Agusta)

RIDER STANDINGS

1. Rea (Honda) 190
2. Haslam (Aprilia) 140
3. Davies (Ducati) 123
4. Sykes (Kawasaki) 88
5. Torres (Aprilia) 83
6. Guintoli (Honda) 65
7. VD Mark (Honda) 60
8. Terol (Ducati) 48
9. Baiocco (Ducati) 48
10. Mercado (Ducati) 45

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS

1. Kawasaki 190
2. Aprilia 140
3. Ducati 135
4. Honda 90
5. Suzuki 51
6. MV Agusta 33
7. BMW 21
8. EBR   4

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