Fabiano Sterlacchini to Assume Role as Technical Director at…

Fabiano Sterlacchini is set to assume the role of technical director at Aprilia Racing during the upcoming MotoGP race in Malaysia. His appointment follows Romano Albesiano’s decision to leave the team for Honda, although Albesiano will remain with Aprilia until the end of the 2024 season. Maverick Vinales expressed that the team’s operations continue normally despite Albesiano’s absence. Sterlacchini aims to lay the groundwork for the upcoming season, which will introduce a new rider lineup. Previously, he worked with KTM and spent 17 years at Ducati.

Aprilia Racing has announced that its newly appointed technical director, Fabiano Sterlacchini, will make his official debut with the team during the penultimate round of the 2024 MotoGP season in Malaysia next week. Sterlacchini’s appointment follows the decision of the current technical chief, Romano Albesiano, to transition to a role with Honda for the upcoming season. Although Albesiano will continue with Aprilia until the end of the 2024 MotoGP season, he has agreed to allow Sterlacchini to start familiarizing himself with team operations in Sepang before the Valencia finale. The team stated, “Fabiano will be with us in Malaysia in an observer role, to take notes and start working for the future; [Albesiano] will remain in the Aprilia garage until Sunday in Valencia.” This announcement comes in light of Albesiano’s absence from the Thailand Grand Prix, where Aprilia Racing rider Maverick Vinales noted that there has been no disruption to their preparations. He remarked, “The truth is that I haven’t noticed anything strange.” Vinales also expressed confidence in Albesiano’s ongoing commitment to the team, emphasizing that despite albesiano’s impending departure, work continues as usual. Sterlacchini’s involvement in Malaysia is crucial as it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Aprilia, which aims to establish a robust foundation for its revised team structure next season. The team will see the introduction of new riders, including current MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, both of whom join from Ducati. Concurrently, Vinales will be transitioning to the Tech3 KTM squad, while Aleix Espargaro is set to take up a test rider role at Honda following his retirement from competitive racing. Before his appointment at Aprilia, Sterlacchini served as the head of the engineering department at KTM since June 2021, following a notable 17-year tenure with Ducati, where he progressed to the role of MotoGP technical director.

The announcement of Fabiano Sterlacchini as the new technical director of Aprilia Racing marks a significant shift within the team as they prepare for the 2024 MotoGP season. The transition comes after Romano Albesiano, the current technical chief, confirmed his departure to Honda, allowing Sterlacchini to take a preparatory role in the upcoming races. Sterlacchini’s background includes extensive experience, with a notable 17-year stint at Ducati, laying a solid foundation for his responsibilities at Aprilia. His familiarity with the MotoGP landscape positions him to lead the technical aspects of the team in a competitive environment as they welcome new riders into their lineup. The strategic timing of his introduction indicates a deliberate approach by Aprilia to ensure a seamless transition and continued performance enhancement within the team.

The upcoming appointment of Fabiano Sterlacchini as the technical director of Aprilia Racing heralds a new era for the team as it contemplates strategic changes in its roster and technical operations for the 2024 MotoGP season. With Sterlacchini’s vast experience and the planned collaboration with Albesiano before his departure, Aprilia is poised to navigate this transition effectively while maintaining competitive momentum. As the team prepares for the Malaysia round, all eyes will be on how this leadership change unfolds and the impact on their forthcoming performance in the championship.

Original Source: www.autosport.com