MotoGP: Bradley Smith still awaits in-depth talks with Aprilia

Bradley Smith still has no contract to be the Aprilia test-rider, and might not have an answer from the team until after Round 2 of the MotoGP calendar.

Bradley explained that Aprilia are waiting to see how full-time rider Lorenzo Savadori copes in the initial tests and rounds of 2021 before making their decision.

“Aprilia are in a bit of a tricky situation where they didn’t really get the second rider that they wanted.” Bradley explained. “I think everyone knows that they tried very hard and everyone said no. Then they’re in a very tricky situation where do you give an Italian champion that has no experience of MotoGP the job of being a development rider, or do you give it to a guy who’s been in there for the past 7 seasons and clearly knows what he’s doing. The bike keeps on getting better and better every time that I’m there. That’s not me blowing my own trumpet, that’s the general factory feeling.”

Smith believes he is better suited than Savadori to both the role of test and full-time rider, but accepts Aprilia needs to make a decision.

“I’ve said it’d be ideal if you could clone me and I could do both jobs. Aprilia have told me that they believe that I’m the fastest rider, and the best rider for both jobs, but when they need to make a decision on where I sit best they’ve decided I sit best in the testing role.”

“It’s a strange situation to be honest because I made it very clear to Aprilia what my opinions were, and this Savadori thing is obviously something that was in the pipeline for a long time. It happened after Aragon, they put him in for 3 races. It was a prize for him winning the Italian championship, as well as a bit of a test for him. It gave him a little bit more experience and it could mean he could be a better test rider moving forward.”

Whilst awaiting Aprilia’s decision, Bradley remains patient and open-minded. He didn’t dismiss the idea of heading to World Superbikes, but expressed his intentions are to stay in MotoGP.

“I’ll only be 31 at the end of this year, although I am coming to those twilight years in terms of motorcycle careers, I still believe there’s a little bit more left in me. My priority is MotoGP, it’s what I know, it’s what I grew up doing since I was 15 years old, so my heart is always there. But now at this age I no longer limit myself to being here or there, I believe I can turn my hand to anything.”

“I have every ambition to be out there racing and I believe I have the goods to do so. I just have to be patient with that and see what actually lands on the table.”

Our Full Interview with Bradley Smith can be here.

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