The world of motorcycling between the curbs is something wonderful! Among enthusiasts there are those who spend thousands of euros on motorcycle accessories and then don’t even know the correct position to hold while riding. Who in dealing with friends removes VAT from their times. Who blames their slowness on the engine that doesn’t push, the brakes that don’t stop or the suspensions that don’t work perfectly. Now, however, there are no more excuses.
Last weekend, on the occasion of the Aprilia All Stars, an “endurance” race was staged with riders of the caliber of Maverick Viñales, Aleix Espargaró, Miguel Oliveira, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Alex Gramigni and Mattia Pasini, who are challenged on the RS 660 Extrema. Completely standard bike: engine, brakes, suspension, gears. Everything completely as it leaves the factory. The only component that was replaced were the tires, where the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II were put aside to make room for more high-performance ones Pirelli Supercorsa SC1.
Well, with the small sports car from the Noale brand completely standard, and we repeat it because its performance has something incredible, Miguel Oliveira stopped the time at 1’45”467 on the Misano track. This is incredible for a bike that has “only” 100 HP. Even more so if we consider the Portuguese rider achieved this time after about ten laps, without ever having ridden that bike before.
Watching him drive was a spectacle. He let the bike race from corner to corner at an impressive speed. No panic accelerations or thrilling braking, but a scary journey. It’s true that we’re talking about an extraterrestrial who fights in the world championship with the top drivers, but it’s also true that we’re talking about a motorcycle placed between the curbs as it leaves the factory. A bike that sets times in curves. And we simple enthusiasts should begin to understand this. It’s true that super sports cars make your heart beat, excite you and convey inimitable sensations. But to go strong all this is not (always) necessary. And the time set by Oliveria, or rather the times, given that the other timers are all there in the 45 and a half zone, are proof of this. The demonstration of how valid Aprilia’s 660 project is: an excellent chassis combined with an engine capable of giving us great satisfaction.
1’45”467, we have no more excuses.
