'No looking back': Bradley Smith splits from Aprilia MotoGP team?
UPDATE: Bradley Smith's manager Bob Moore has told mahbx.com they are still in discussions with Aprilia...
An Instagram post featuring a Yamaha suggests Bradley Smith has split from Aprilia an𒐪d is thus no longer in contention for the factory's remaining MotoGP race seat or a test riding role.
After six seasons ꧅in MotoGP with Tech3 Yamaha (two podiums) and then KTM, Smith joined Aprilia as test and wild-card rider at the end of 2018.
UPDATE: Bradley Smith's manager Bob Moore has told mahbx.com they are still in discussions with Aprilia...
An Instagram post featuring a Yamaha ꦆsuggests Bradley Smith has split from Aprilia and is thus no longer in contention for the factory's remaining MotoGP race seat or a test riding role.
After six seasons in MotoGP wit👍h Tech3 Yamaha (two podiums) and then KTM, Smith joined Aprilia as test and wild-card rider at the end of 2018.
The Englishman then stepped up to replace the suspended Andrea Iওannone for much of the 2020 season, taking a best finish of twelfth, but was dropped in place of fellow test rider Lorenzo Savadori for the final three rounds.
After Iannone's doping ban was increase to four-years by the CAS, and several Moto2 stars turned down the Aprilia seat, the factory announced the 2021 ride 🥃would go to either Smith or Savadori.
A decision wasn't due to be taken until the end of pre-season testing, when one ri🌠der would be named alongside Aleix Espargaro in the race team and the other would continue as test rider.
But recent rumours suggested Aprilia had🧔 🔯already made up its mind, wanting to offer Savadori the race seat and Smith the testing role.
The former 125cc race winner uploaded a picture of a Yamaha R3 track bike alongside the words 'No Loo𒉰king Back' and 'Project #109 is complete'.
Posting about a rival brand seems unthinkable if ꧂Smith was continuing at Aprilia.
It therefore appears Savadori will🐲 be racing alongside Espargaro in MotoGP this season ꦕ- unless a renewed effort to sign Andrea Dovizioso suddenly succeeds - and that the Italian factory will need to find a new test rider.
Aprilia is due to complete its first MotoGP laps of the year during a private test at Jerez, later this monthꦉ.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury i🌄ssues.
