From a press release issued by Aprilia:

APRILIA EMBARKS ON ITS 2004 MOTOGP ADVENTURE FROM GENOA

A typical Italian Spring day welcomed the press presentation of the MS Aprilia Racing Team, which will race with the new Rs Cube.

Candido Cannavò introduced the event at Genoa’s Aquarium, the naturalistic window in the ancient harbour of the city of the “Lanternas”.

Mr. Gianni Plinio, Vice President of the Liguria Region said: “I’m very pleased to present the MS Aprilia Racing Team in Genoa’s Aquarium. As you all know, – added Mr. Plinio – this year Genoa is the capital of European Culture, which, considered in its various aspects, can also be defined as the culture of business and therefore Aprilia’s way of life!”.

“I’m here basically because I am Aprilia’s President Ivano Beggio friend”, added Candido Cannavò. Later, when talking of Aprilia’s history in World Championship, Mr Cannavò remembered the 22 World Championships won over the past 20 years and how some of the current biggest champions started their careers on Aprilia racing bikes.

“This new Rs Cube – said Mr Ivano Beggio – contains 235 new elements. This means that we believe in this project and strongly wish to improve it. Aprilia invested many resources in races and this season is definitely centered on the growth and development of the RS Cube”. Aprilia has always built winning racing bikes, but our specialties are the 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, which are extremely difficult to produce”.

Such complexity is, in fact, Jan Witteven’s mission, Tech-in-Chief of the Aprilia Racing Team, who believes in the three-cylinder engine. “Last year – said Witteven – we delayed the development because of certain misleading strategic choices; but I am ready to bet on this project today!”.

The new RS Cube has a new white pretty as well as two new riders. Jeremy McWilliams came back to Aprilia after three years and Shane “Shakey” Byrne is a rookie in the MotoGP series, instead. Jeremy knows Aprilia’s style very well and Shakey is the British champion, who won two races in the World Superbike Championship.

Both riders are optimistic for the 2004 season. “Our target is to be in the top ten”, said Jeremy McWilliams. Jeremy spoke about the bike, defining it as “very fast!!”. He then added “I’m very positive for the 2004 season”.

He concluded by saying: “I’m looking forward to the Irta test in Barcelona to measure my real potential on this bike, and I’m very happy to be part of this Team.”