Aprilia signing Fabiano Sterlacchini as technical director for the 2025 MotoGP season is a “big change” seen as necessary for the Italian man𒉰ufacture⛦r.

Sterlacchini previous♛ly served 17 years with Ducati and held the role of technical director before departing for KTM in 2021.

Earlier this year, KTM confirmed Sterlacchini had parted ways with the Austrian manufacture🐟r and was reported in the summer as b𒈔eing in advanced talks with Honda.

Howev﷽er, on Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix, Aprilia an🔯nounced it had signed Sterlacchini to replace Honda-bound Romano Albesiano as its technical director.

ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚJorge Martin, who joins Aprilia next year, hasn’t had experience of working with Sterla༒cchini but praised his signing.

“So, I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“We will wait till Valencia and then I will start working with Fabiano. It seems like everybody is really motivated by that cဣhange, so I’m really happyꦅ that they did it.

“Bꦯut we will see after Valencia. I didn’t work with him. For sure he did a great job at KTM. He’s really experienced at Ducati and KTM. So, I think the knowhow will be really good for Aprilia.”

Martin’s future team-mate Marco Bezzecch🌟i added: “I never had the possibil𓆉ity to speak to him in person.

“Anywa🌃y, I know he’s a very, very nice engineer and he made some very nice work in Ducati, but also KTM.

“So, I’m happy for the꧂m, I’m happy for him to join the project. I know it’s something that right now that is in my mind completely.

“So, I don’t kno꧃w if my opinion is very good right now because I’m very focused on what I💖’m doing right now.

“Anyway, for me it’s good news. I think they are really charged, and they want to improve and fight f🐭or good positions.

“They are very motivated and for🎐 me this is positive. So, I will try to arrive with that motivation.”

Current factory Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, who will join Honda as a test rider, says Albesiano will be a “big loss” to the Noale brand - but 🍒notes that “needs a big change”, and Sterlacchini is the “big boost” ඣit needs.

“Obviously it’s a big loss𝓀, because I think with more time, with more perspective we’ll give more credit to what Romano has achieved in his time with Aprilia,” he said.

“The journey has been amaz🐼ing. So, hats off for his job. But I think also Aprilia needs a big change.

“It’s a big boost for everyone at Noale. They♊ change the riders, they have new crew chiefs, they will have new technical dire﷽ctor.

“So, 🙈it’s one, maybe two steps, for Aprilia for the future and I’m happy because they need it.”