The Aprilia team will resume its MotoGP tests next week at the Misano circuit, for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With restrictions relieved across Europe, circuits have started to reopen for private testing and trackdays. Last week, KTM hit the track in Austria, on the Red Bull Ring, with Pol Espargaró and Dani Pedrosa. It was the first time that MotoGP machines had hit the track since February in Qatar.
Aprilia will be the next team in the top category to hit the track, with two days of testing at Misano. The test pilot Bradley Smith will pilot the RS-GP on June 10 and 11. The Italian team will return to the Misano circuit at the end of the month, still with Smith, but also with Aleix Espargaró this time.
Motorsport.com understands that this will be the first group test of MotoGP since February, Ducati having rented the circuit. Other manufacturers could join them on June 23 and 24, including KTM and possibly Honda.
Only Aprilia and KTM have the opportunity to test with their regular drivers, due to the concessions received by the two manufacturers. An official test should also be confirmed for the Wednesday preceding the opening of the season in Jerez on July 19. On Monday, the Dorna confirmed that the 2020 season will be contested in Europe until mid-November in order to organize as many races as possible, with overseas races taking place later if they can be held safely.
This information was communicated at the same time as that of the cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The Japanese round thus joined Qatar, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Great Britain and Australia among the canceled Grand Prix.
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