Ferrari F1's Rivola becomes Aprilia Racing CEO

Ferrari F1 sporting director Massimo Rivola has been hired as CEO of Aprilia Racing, starting his new job on January 7.

Rivola, 47, described as a motorcycle and Aprilia brand enthusiast, has spent 21 seasons in Formula One.

After twelve years with Minardi/Toro Rosso, rising to team manager, Rivola joined Ferrari in 2009 and has been the team's longest-serving sporting director, working with the likes of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

For the last three years Rivola has been head of the Ferrari Driver Academy, taking a young Charles Leclerc from an F3 car to F1.

Rivola's arrival means Romano Albesiano can now focus on the design side of the RS-GP MotoGP project, with the factory confirming to Crash.net that Albesiano's official role will change from Racing Manager to Technical Director.

"Personally, I would like to have more possibility to focus on the technical side," Albesiano said at Valencia, when asked about more management support. "In our company I’m doing these two roles and for sure it is something that we have to fix for the future."

'The appointment of Rivola, who brings to MotoGP the vast experience accumulated in Formula 1, is another important step in the path of consolidating the Noale racing department and confirmation of the Piaggio Group's commitment to growing the MotoGP project,' said an Aprilia statement.

'With this addition, Aprilia Racing continues to grow after the signing of top rider Andrea Iannone, who will ride alongside reconfirmed Aleix Espargaró, the arrival of Bradley Smith as tester and the addition of two new crew chiefs with proven experience, Antonio Jimenez and Fabrizio Cecchini.'

Aprilia lost fifth in the MotoGP constructors' standings to KTM at the final round of this year's championship.