APRILIA have confirmed that Eugene Laverty will join the factory Alitalia team, partnering Max Biaggi.
In his first ride on the factory RSV4, Laverty ended the post-season test with the quickest time - quickly adapting to the compact V4 superbike he will ride next season.
Laverty signed a two-year contract with the Italian manufacturer after an impressive debut WSB season, finishing fourth and scoring two victories with Yamaha.
After the test the 25-year-old from Toomebridge gave his first impressions: "That felt pretty good and I did a 1'42.8, and a few other fast laps too. When I first rode it, it felt small and I noticed how much I could move around the bike.
"We had to make some changes, from the base setting that Aprilia has. We had some chatter and some harshness and we really worked through a lot really and by the end we had all but fixed all the problems we had.
"Everything I had heard about the Aprilia was a little bit scared of the rigidity, the lack of engine brake but it was no problems at the end of me. For me the engine brake was fine and I thought there would be less. I was looking forward to riding this bike and it has really impressed me."
Laverty had been expected to compete out of the secondary PATA outfit next season, albeit on a factory bike, after conducting the test out of their garage.
