Fabiano Ste🌊rlacchini had a “good surprise” when he first🅺 met Marco Bezzecchi which should boost Aprilia.

The te🔯chnical director and the factory rider both joined Aprilia since the end of last season.

They have now spent the three-day Sepang test developing their 2025꧋ bike 𒁃together.

“He is really good,” Sterlacchini said a𝓡bout Bezzecchiౠ.

“From the outside, I had the impression that Marco was super-talented but not so te♏chn🐻ical.

“It has been a good surprise!

“The job we’re doing, setting up the bike in terms o🃏f hardware items, is quite an interesting way to work because it’s very cal🐟m.

“We are setting up the bike in a way which is repeata𓃲b𒉰le, so we can test just one item, and to have statistical data with consistency.”

Aprilia tech boss explains progress

Aprilia’s - and Sterlacchini’s - job was made harder when Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez picked up injuries just a few laps into the Sepang test, depriving the manufactur🐽er of two riders.

Their test plans were therefore forced to adapt.

“This is one of the problems, 🐭the difficult part of our job,” Sterlac𓃲chini said.

“We are adapting, day by day, based on♔ the result of the test items.

“We have slots fo🌺r each items and♉ we will respect it.”

Bezzecchi has already noted the power of the Aprilia engine, but questioned how their bike caℱn maximise it.

“The development and the evolution of ℱthe ꦛbike? We must touch every point of the bike,” Sterlacchini said.

“This is one of the crucial 🐭points because it allows the rider to push the bike to the limit, to explore the rear tyre.

“The electronics are like 🔯a black box, the engine will deliver the power that the electronics request🦹.”

Starting quickly was a weakness of the April🧔ia which Sterlacchini is determined to fix.

“Yes, for sure,” he said. “We are focusing wi🅘th the company, dele𒀰gating different areas and different tasks.

“The star🐟t is an important point. The new generation of MotoGP, with aero and power, if 🌠you start at the back it is a difficult race.

“Starting﷽ at the front is a key po🌠int for performance.”

Sterlacchini b༺rings experience from Ducati and KT🅘M to his new job.

He knows the crunch task is to reduce the deficit t💝o the dominant Ducatis, and eventually overtake them.

“It is always difficult. For sure, we are absolutely in ☂a good situation,” he said.

“The human aspect oဣf the c🅷ompany is at a super high level.

“The experience in ra༒cing comes from a long time ago.

“There is work to be do🐬ne. In my experience, there is margin to improve.

“꧟We have a lot of material from the company, but also built here, such as the electronics.”