Edwards and Haga leaving Aprilia

Skully · 10-30-2003, 9:59 PM

Aprilia have officially announced that riders' Colin Edwards and Noriyuki Haga will both leave the team after this Sunday's season ending Valencia Grand Prix.
Despite an impressive start to the year, the team have struggled to contain the chatter and weight problems that have hampered the RS Cube ever since, while the expected demise of title sponsor Alice has done little to help their future plans.

Edwards has long been linked with a return to Honda, alongside Sete Gibernau in the Telefonica team, and could well take Michelin with him. Meanwhile, Haga may be making his last MotoGP start this Sunday - the Samurai of Slide having looked a shadow of his former WSBK self this season.

'We are saying goodbye to Colin and Nori this weekend,' confirmed Aprilia project leader Gigi Dall'Igna. 'We will wish them our best for the future, then immediately start work for the 2004 season,' 'In fact we are going to test (at Valencia) after the GP with Marcellino Lucchi.

'We will test the new engine soon, but in the mean time we are working on the chassis,' he added. 'In all we have a new chassis, new swingarm and different solutions to test. This work will allow us to create the best bike fornext season. Now we are ready to end the season with a good result, but are also excited about the tests.'

Aprilia gave no indication of their 2004 rider line-up, although Olivier Jacque and Jeremy McWilliams have been linked with the team.

CyBeR929 · 10-30-2003, 10:09 PM

I wonder what that means for Adrian Gorst (sp?)....he went over to Aprilia with Edwards from Honda...wonder if Aprilia is keeping him around or he'll follow Edwards again. I'm hoping follow Edwards.

ccwilli3 · 10-30-2003, 10:17 PM

Uhhh, they can't possibly link edwards to that POS underperforming!! Okay, I'm pissed now!

(hoping he rides red next year, be it a Honda or a Ducati)

deez · 10-30-2003, 10:43 PM

I'm pretty sure he'll be on a Honda but you never know, the silly season is in full stride until Sunday @ Valencia. I know he (CEII) has secured a ride on another bike already but himself and his Dad are tight lipped about it. Sources say it's a V5 with Sete but you never know.

tigerblade · 10-31-2003, 8:51 AM

Quote:

Skully : Aprilia have officially announced that riders' Colin Edwards and Noriyuki Haga will both leave the team after this Sunday's season ending Valencia Grand Prix.
Despite an impressive start to the year, the team have struggled to contain the chatter and weight problems that have hampered the RS Cube ever since, while the expected demise of title sponsor Alice has done little to help their future plans.

Edwards has long been linked with a return to Honda, alongside Sete Gibernau in the Telefonica team, and could well take Michelin with him. Meanwhile, Haga may be making his last MotoGP start this Sunday - the Samurai of Slide having looked a shadow of his former WSBK self this season.

'We are saying goodbye to Colin and Nori this weekend,' confirmed Aprilia project leader Gigi Dall'Igna. 'We will wish them our best for the future, then immediately start work for the 2004 season,' 'In fact we are going to test (at Valencia) after the GP with Marcellino Lucchi.

'We will test the new engine soon, but in the mean time we are working on the chassis,' he added. 'In all we have a new chassis, new swingarm and different solutions to test. This work will allow us to create the best bike fornext season. Now we are ready to end the season with a good result, but are also excited about the tests.'

Aprilia gave no indication of their 2004 rider line-up, although Olivier Jacque and Jeremy McWilliams have been linked with the team.

Might want to quote your source unless you wrote all that yourself.

Heavy-Dee · 10-31-2003, 9:19 AM

I read it on the apprilia racing website yesterday.

HD

ccwilli3 · 10-31-2003, 9:19 AM

its on rrw and amasuperbike.com...

See the 'Aprilia release on Valencia...' stuff

tigerblade · 10-31-2003, 9:44 AM

Just practicing my copywright attorney skillz.

sweetonion · 10-31-2003, 12:42 PM

copy what?