Hofmann: Aprilia will cause a surprise!

Welcome, welcome. It's nice to see the Europeans at last take racing by the numbers!
Ducati is already a steady force, Aprilia and BMW, are to be in next year, we should expect KTM at some point and somewhere along the way Triumph might make its appearance with the -yet to be revealed- Daytona 1050 or 1100.

Go Europe!

Hell yeah! go Europe the more the better,except I'll still buy Japanese cause its cheaper

WSBK series is sure in a boom time. Glad to see the new factories coming in, just noe there's a shortage of competent riders. Hiring Alex Hoffman is scraping the bottom of the barrel for Aprilia. But maybe with AMA going bust a few good riders will come over for 2010.

yes looking forward to apilia and bm being in the series, the aprilia should be a good looking bike as well.

Hofmann is not scraping the bottom of the barrel he's still world championship level, I say good luck to him and good luck to Aprilia, it will be good to see them back in the Championship!

I think that Aprillia could spring a surprise. Their Mille Millia RSVR1000 was a great motorbike – Corser said that it was the best superbike that he has ever ridden.

I think they could definately ruffle a few Italian feathers, I don't see why Ducati didn't adapt their MotoGP V4 designs for the road, oh well too late now really!

Ducati aren't that stupid to allow their 200cc asset to go away. It's the old talk about 2cyl vs 4-cyl so no need to start it all over again but I'm sure they've done their maths and came out that 1200 V-2 is better overall than 1000-IL4

I don't think Aprilia will surprise anyone, I EXPECT them to be competitive given their racing pedigree, and prior wsb experience.

The Hoff more than deserves a chance, he's developed the bike so should at least have an opportunity on it. It's sacrilage seeing a rider of his calibre sidelined from racing, he is a pucker racer, hugely talented and a true gent to boot!

Hofmann is a waste of talent.....this guy walks away from races because he doesn't feel like racing.....think 2007....

What a shame...

hey Jack

Aprilia is going with a V4 and not an IL4 so hopefully it will add some spice!

WSBK is definitely in a boom period. I've read on this site that they are interested in running the 250cc support class along with WSS when Dorna cast them aside. What a mistake for Dorna and what a coup for WSBK!

I don't mind if they bring the 250's over but not as a makeweight for GP taking 600's into their fold, prototype's or not we all (well i think i do so that makes it all of us lol) know what they're up to.

Should make GP 1 cylinder 200, 2 cylinder 400 and 4 cylinder 800 (my mates idea not mine)....well actually they should keep the 125's and 250's as they are but if they gonna mess about with it that seems reasonable.

WSBK is kicking butt in the entertainment stakes this year and that's without all the nice new shiny bikes on the grid next year, not to mention the chance of 3 or 4 Brit's to support too...Brits or not though it'll still be Go#41! for me

Max Well, isn't the Ducati Desmosedici a direct development of the V4 MotoGP bike for the road? If so, they could probably homologate it for WSBK if they wanted to, though I think they will stick with the V2 as their bread and butter machine and the one most likely to race WSBK.

Hillbilly, you are way off on your assessment of Hoffmann. He's a class act and can run with the best of them.

Now that silly season is upon us, I nominate Leon Camier or Brendan Roberts for the second Aprilia.

Hey Respect Type R,
you have not a clue what are you talking about. Where you there, when Alex Hofmann "didn´t feel like racing" - I mean in the moto gp paddock, in the pits, or when when Alex was giving interviews.....! Or are you just interpreting, so called "insider print knowledge". In fact you dont´t know a thing. Neither Hofmanns attitude about racing, nor any other riders. You just don´t like him. That´s your bloody right - but then say it. It´s always about sympathy or the other. Not more! So let me tell you - I know more - you don´t. You are the shame and your written words a waste !!!

I hope he does well, especially since I have never seen him do well before. Good on Aprilia returning to SBK. I think it's the best bike racing there is currently so they have a huge task ahead. Perhaps a hot-blooded youngster would be a better choice, but it will be good watching regardless.

Kinda funny that BMW didn't even want him. Or is it sad??

SoCal-Rider

I'm sure as Big MotoGP fan you will know that Hofmann quit a race because "he didn´t feel like racing" I'm also sure that you are old enough and smart enough to figure out which race it was and what team he was fired from..here is a hint, check 2007..I never claimed to have any "insider information" you just assumed i did, actually most of your post is an assumption and a very poor one at that.I never assumed to know more than anyone about this or any situation concerning MotoGP.I thought my post was very clear and to the point, I don't like hofmann. sorry. I just think that there are tons of riders that deserve that ride.

Agree or disagree....Don't assume anything.

outside bet. Regis laconi for the aprillia n#2 ride. He has aprillia history. Altough so does biaggi.

I am German, and I was so full of expectations when Alex Hofmann joined 250 ccm and later the 500 ccm.

But over the time I have completely lost my faith in him. Sorry Alex.

Nevertheless, wishing you good luck!

Here's a few more names for the 2nd Aprillia...

Shakey on the Aprillia - he's experience of the 'cube' in moto GP... McWilliams...

I've got a feeling It'll end up being a 'young' italian from the 250's..

I've got a feeling the bike will be competitive - BUT will Aprillia be able to cope with the Moto GP bikes (Smaller class - b4 anyone says BUT they're not in MotoGp and haven't been since 23004....)... and WSBK??

Would love to see someone like Bradley Smith have a go!! BUT he'll aim to stay in Moto GP...

Everyone is smitten with Aprilia for being the one to finally develop a v4 bike for the road. My big question is why haven't any other factories grown some nuts and done the same. Kawasaki for instance? I personally love Kawa engines, ooh the music! But they just can't seem to make a good racing team out of their zx10r. Why not just take that screamer engine from motoGP, make it affordable, put it in a decent chassis, race it and sell it?

Makes too much sense to me, Kawa are always radical (and silly) with their bikes, they are fighting a losing battle doing the same thing as Honda, Yam and Suz. They have the v4 knowledge already, why not use it?