Making Friends With Espargaro, Savadori Replaces Iannone In Aprilia

Lorenzo Savadori (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini appointed Lorenzo Savadori to replace Andrea Iannone, who is still undergoing doping sanctions, to compete in MotoGP this season.

The 27-year-old Italian racer will partner his Spanish teammate Aleix Espargaro, equipped with the Aprilia RS-GP motorbike, which this year is a tribute to former team boss Fausto Gresini who died at the age of 60 due to COVID-19 some time ago.

Savadori was previously a World Superbike racer and won the Italian Superbike title last year.

He made his MotoGP debut with Aprilia last season replacing British racer Bradley Smith who had filled the role of Iannone.

"I have to thank Aprilia for this extraordinary opportunity", said Savadori as quoted by Antara on the team's official website on Thursday.

"I know I still have a lot to learn. This is a demanding category and it's new to me.

"Last year's tests and races allowed me to build confidence with this bike and with this tire, but this is a starting point with a wide margin for development".

"I will try to transform the grief caused by the passing of Fausto, a person who had great faith in me, into positive energy.

"His determination and the things he taught me will accompany me to this new stage in my career".

Iannone received a four-year ban in November after the Court of Arbitration for Sport extended his initial 18-month sentence following an appeal.

The Italian racer was banned from racing in March 2020 after a urine sample, at the Malaysian Grand Prix in November 2019, was found to contain an anabolic steroid.

Aprilia will try out the new bike, which was launched today, in Qatar during the pre-season testing session on Friday.

Qatar will also host the opening MotoGP series on March 28.