'Good start' for Aprilia's 2021 MotoGP bike at Jerez test

The day after the season-ending Portimao MotoGP, Aprilia was on track at Jerez for a shakedown test with the first version of its 2021 RS-GP.

Although there are no official MotoGP post-season tests this season, Aprilia's status as the only remaining factory still qualifying for technical concessions meant race rider Aleix Espargaro was able to take part in the private outing.

But while Espargaro was making his way from Portugal to Spain on Monday, Aprilia test rider Bradley Smith conducted the first laps with the 2021 bike, being joined by the #41 at the Spanish Grand Prix venue in the afternoon.

Both continued testing on Tuesday with Smith and fellow test rider Lorenzo Savadori also completing some Wednesday laps, before the forecast rain duly arrived.

As a private test held behind closed doors, no lap times were released for the new bike.

However, Aprilia confirmed to Crash.net that the updates include new chassis, new carbon-fibre swingarm and new engine.

The riders reported good sensations from the chassis and swingarm updates as well as a positive first impression of the revised engine, which was only a 'first evolution' and so not being used in full power specification.

All in all, it is said to have been a 'good start' for the 2021 bike, with 'no problems'.

Despite high hopes of this year's all-new RS-GP breaking into the MotoGP top five for the first time, the bike eventually took a best race finish of eighth place, mainly struggling with a lack of acceleration.

Smith rode in place of Andrea Iannone for the opening twelve rounds of this season before handing over to Savadori.

Both have been retained by Aprilia for next year, with a decision on which of them gets the 2021 race seat alongside Espargaro to be made after pre-season testing.

The consolation for the other rider will be that wild-cards are allowed in MotoGP again next year, meaning up to six races will still be possible for the test rider.

The first official test of 2021 is scheduled for Sepang in February.