Aprilia Racing manager Romano Albesiano admits the factory's all-new RS-GP is facing a tight development schedule ahead of the opening 2016 MotoGP race in Qatar. The new machine, which will replace the current superbike-based design, is currently undergoing a shakedown with test rider Mike di Meglio at Aragon. But Aprilia has been planning a proper prototype since early last season, so why the delay? The answer is twofold; first the factory decided to alter its plans and switch to a counter-rotating crankshaft for the new engine, a technique used by Yamaha and (it is believed) Ducati. A counter-rotating crankshaft makes a bike more agile by working against the gyroscopic effect of the...
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