Aprilia has announced the signing of Fabiano Sterlacchini as its new technical director for the 2025 MotoGP season.
The Italian manufacturer shared the news during Friday’s practice at Motegi, following the announcement that current Technical Director Romano Albesiano will join Honda’s development programme for next season.
Sterlacchini will join Aprilia after the conclusion of the 2024 season as it looks to make big changes following its marquee signings of Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
2025 Aprilia riders ‘don’t know what to say’ about Sterlacchini appointment
Sterlacchini’s arrival at Aprilia will be another big change that the team has to contend with after the overhaul of its rider lineup for 2025.
Current championship leader Martin and VR46’s Bezzecchi will both be switching from Ducati machinery to head to the Noale-based factory.
While both riders were unsure of what to say about Sterlacchini’s arrival, both insisted that it was a positive move for their future team.
“I don’t know what to say, we will wait until Valencia and then I will start working with Fabiano,” Martin told MotoGP.
“It seems like everyone is really motivated with that change so I’m pretty happy that they did it, but we will see after Valencia.
“I haven’t worked with him. For sure he did a good job with KTM, he’s really experienced with Ducati and KTM so I think the know-how will be really good for Aprilia.
“I never had the possibility to speak with him in person but anyway I know he’s a very nice engineer and he made some nice works in Ducati and also in KTM, so I’m happy for them,” Bezzecchi explained to MotoGP.
“I’m happy for him to join the project. It’s something that right now is not in my mind completely, so I don’t know if my opinion is very good because I’m very focused on what I’m doing now – but anyway, for me this is good news.
“I think they are really challenging and they really want to improve and fight for good positions and they are very motivated and for me this is positive, so I will try also to arrive with that motivation.”
Aprilia ‘have to risk to succeed’ in MotoGP – Aleix Espargaro
Sterlacchini’s signing is also seen as positive by both of the team’s current riders, Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro.
Espargaro, who will be leaving the team when he retires at the end of the season, believes that the changes Aprilia are making show that it is now willing to take risks to succeed.
“It’s a big boost for everybody in Noale,” said Espargaro said.
“They changed the riders, really talented young riders, they have new crew chiefs, they will have a new technical director.
“I think it’s one or even two steps for Aprilia into the future and I’m happy because I think they need it.
“In life you have to risk to succeed, and they risk.
“They knew they risked it but they made the right moves because they signed Bezzecchi, a really young Italian rider, they signed Martin, the fastest rider on the grid right now.
“And now the new technical director, I worked with him and he’s been working in KTM and in Ducati in the past years so they made the right move.
“Obviously it’s not going to be easy but it’s also not going to be easy for everyone.
“Even for Honda with Romano’s project, also KTM needs to sign new people, Ducati needs to reinvent year on year, so it’s not easy for anybody.
“For me Aprilia looks promising, it’s like putting new fuel on the fire, so to me it looks promising.”
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