Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion, introduced final week that he would keep at Yamaha for an additional two years regardless of hypothesis linking him with different groups because the Japanese producer continues to wrestle to be aggressive.
Autosport understands that the French rider’s new contract with Yamaha is value €12 million per yr, making Quartararo the highest-paid rider on the grid.
In current months, Aprilia had opened a line of dialogue with Quartararo over a doable transfer, however the Italian group’s supply was barely greater than €4m.
Talking to Autosport, Rivola prompt Aprilia’s precedence is to make use of its finances to enhance the bike as a substitute of providing riders greater salaries.
“The restrict that now we have at an financial degree when it comes to rider salaries could be very a lot associated to the efficiency of the bike. If a rider desires to win, I do not know if cash needs to be the figuring out think about that call,” Rivola instructed stated.
“Earlier than that, I feel it is extra essential that he asks himself what he desires to do: do I wish to generate profits or do I desire a undertaking that permits me to win? And I feel the Aprilia undertaking means that you can struggle to win.
“And I’ll say extra: if he wins, cash is not going to be an issue. However the dedication must be mutual.”
Requested to evaluate Yamaha’s resolution, he stated: “I am not used to commenting on information about different groups. On this case, I’ll merely say that it appears to me that Yamaha is shifting in the best route.”
Relating to the line-up for subsequent season, Rivola believes that Espargaro and Maverick Vinales deserve preferential therapy due to the gamble they took in becoming a member of the group.
In that sense, and given the extent of competitiveness of the RS-GP, Aprilia is in no hurry.
Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Group
Photograph by: Aprilia Racing
“We are going to most likely be the final ones to signal the 2 riders for 2025. To begin with, as a result of we wish to respect Aleix and Maverick, and provides them time to clarify their want to proceed. In fact, I hearken to everybody, as a result of it is rather fascinating to understand how one is perceived,” stated the Aprilia CEO.
Though his influence on the Noale manufacturing facility undertaking has been decisive since he joined on the finish of 2018, Rivola is elegant sufficient to downplay his advantage, and shift many of the weight to the corporate he works for.
In response to Nielsen knowledge, Aprilia’s worth has elevated tenfold within the final 5 years, the identical period of time Rivola has been its CEO.
In his first three years as boss, Aprilia completed backside of the constructors’ desk, solely to take an enormous step ahead by ending third in 2022, a yr during which it was in a position to compete as a manufacturing facility with out its administration going hand in hand with the Gresini group, and during which it achieved its first MotoGP win, in Argentina, courtesy of Aleix Espargaro.
The Spaniard was one of many title contenders till the Asian tour that marked the final a part of the calendar, during which the RS-GP stagnated.
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
In 2023, Aprilia consolidated its place in third place, even showing to have the second-best bike on the grid, behind solely the omnipotent Ducati.
“Our development happened as a result of the Piaggio group wished to put money into MotoGP,” Rivola added.
“For instance that my arrival coincided with that willingness to take a position. With out that, I would not have been in a position to do something.
“And the very first thing they invested in was the folks.
“We’re in search of a great steadiness between the motorcycle racing tradition in Noale and the incorporation of abilities coming from different fields equivalent to F1. This presents a mixture of folks with a really excessive degree of expertise and information, equivalent to Romano Albesiano – technical director – with younger individuals who have simply graduated from college,” the manager explains.
“Whenever you handle to develop yearly, motivation will increase since you realise that you’re on course. If our bike is getting higher and higher, it is as a result of we’re stronger on the manufacturing facility degree. After which, in fact, the rider issue has a giant affect.”