The Aprilia adventure began in 1945, when Cavaliere Alberto Beggio founded the company in Noale. At the time, the company was dedicated to the production of bicycles. The turning point came in 1968 when his son, Ivano Beggio, took over the reins. Fascinated by mechanics and motorized two-wheelers, he and a few colleagues created the brand's first moped, a 50 cm³ orange and gold model named Colibrì.
Success was immediate and encouraging. Ivano Beggio sensed the potential of the off-road market, which was very popular with young people. In 1970, the Scarabeo was born. Not yet the iconic scooter of the 90s, but a motocross model that would remain in production for almost a decade. It was with these small, light and agile machines that Aprilia began to make a name for itself in Italy, taking its first victories in local competitions. The 70s saw the production of high-performance motocross bikes, such as the RC 125, which laid the foundations for the brand's chassis and engine expertise.
The Grand Prix Revolution and the birth of legends
Aprilia's true DNA was built on the asphalt of international circuits. Ivano Beggio understood before many others that racing was the most powerful technological and advertising showcase. Having cut his teeth in motocross, Aprilia entered the World Speed Championship in the mid-80s.
The first world title came in 1992, when Alessandro Gramigni won the 125cc class. This was only the beginning of an almost hegemonic domination of the 125 and 250 cm³ classes. Noale's bikes, with their strident two-stroke engines and razor-sharp chassis, became the machines to beat.
It was on these bikes that legendary names won their first world titles:
- Max Biaggi (250 cm³ World Champion from 1994 to 1996)
- Loris Capirossi (250 cm³ World Champion in 1998)
- Valentino Rossi (125 cm³ World Champion in 1997 and 250 cm³ World Champion in 1999)
- Jorge Lorenzo (250 cm³ World Champion in 2006 and 2007)
- Casey Stoner (trained and won 250 cm³ races on Aprilia)
Between 1992 and the end of the two-stroke era, Aprilia amassed a staggering track record, with dozens of riders' and constructors' titles, establishing itself as the nursery of champions for the modern MotoGP era.
Innovation for the road
The know-how acquired in competition is systematically transferred to production models, creating exciting motorcycles for the general public.
Scooter success
In 1993, Aprilia revolutionized urban transport with the launch of the Scarabeo, a large-wheeled scooter with a neo-retro design that became a phenomenal commercial success throughout Europe. This model redefined the standards of the urban scooter, combining style, comfort and safety.
The twin-cylinder superbike
At the end of the 90s, Aprilia decided to challenge the Japanese giants and Ducati in the superbike arena. The RSV Mille was launched in 1998. Equipped with a powerful 998 cm³ 60° V-twin engine developed in partnership with Austrian Rotax, it boasts an exceptionally rigorous chassis. It won its first World Superbike Championship in 2000 with Troy Corser, laying the foundations for future success.
The Piaggio era and the V4 revolution
In the early 2000s, despite its image and sporting successes, Aprilia faced financial difficulties. In 2004, the brand was acquired by the Piaggio Group, an industrial giant that gave it the stability and resources it needed to pursue its development.
This new chapter gave birth to one of the most striking motorcycles of the 21st century: the RSV4. Launched in 2009, it abandons the twin-cylinder engine for a compact, super-powerful 65° V4, an architecture directly inspired by Grand Prix experience. This bike was a revelation. It enabled Max Biaggi to win the World Superbike Championship in 2010 and 2012, followed by Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli's victory in 2014. The RSV4 and its roadster variant, the Tuono V4, are still considered absolute benchmarks in terms of performance and chassis efficiency.
Back to the top: the conquest of MotoGP
After a first unsuccessful attempt in the early 2000s, Aprilia made its official return to MotoGP in 2015. The road was long and arduous. The Noale-based team works tirelessly to develop its RS-GP against competitors with colossal budgets.
In the end, perseverance paid off. Under the impetus of Aleix Espargaró, the bike progressed season after season. On April 3, 2022, history was made: Espargaró gave Aprilia its very first MotoGP victory at the Argentine Grand Prix.