Aprilia is close to confirming whether or not Sylvain Guintoli will join Eugene Laverty in the factory Aprilia team for 2013.
Speaking to
GPone.com at the Milan show this week, the Italian manufacturer's racing head, Gigi Dall'Igna, described Guintoli as a 'reasonable choice' to team up with Irishman Laverty in next year's World Superbike Championship.
“He could be a reasonable choice to partner with Laverty,” said Dall'Igna.
“I repeat: everything will depend on what we decide in the coming hours.”
Dall'Igna also confirmed it was possible Aprilia would only run one rider next season.
“That is one possibility... We want to be present in the championship with adequate numbers and representation.
“We are still making our final decision. We have enough bikes available to make whatever choice we want, but we just have to figure out the make-up of the team.”
Dall'Igna reiterated that Aprilia's offer to Red Devils Roma remained on the table, when the team could run as a satellite outfit with Althea Racing.
“If we don't reach an agreement, it will be an mistake,” he said.
“It isn't easy to reach a deal, but certainly having a team on the level of [Genesio] Bevilacqua's (Althea Racing) would be a positive thing.”
The final World Superbike test of the season will be held at
Jerez at the end of November.