WHEN you think of iconic 250cc race bikes from across the years, the name Aprilia is bound to crop up somewhere. Their RS250 two-stroke grand prix machine – as ridden by a certain Mr Valentino Rossi – was a winner on road and track, spawning thousands of race replica clones.
For a few years, since the phasing out of two-strokes in favour of apparently more environmentally friendly four-stroke machines, the 250cc sportsbike has been something of an oddity, on the road and track.
That was until Kawasaki put a rocket up the category in the form of the bonkers screaming ZX-25R Ninja road and race machines. For 2020 and 2021, it looks like the sports 250cc scene is about to get interesting.
Never wanting to miss out on a good thing, Aprilia has also stepped into the frame, as they have announced their latest race bike, the RS250 SP.
Due to be officially unveiled at the Italian Sports Production Championship in June, the bike has now been revealed to the public online and it now has a price!
Coming in at a heady €9,700 (exc taxes), the bike isn’t what your call cheap, but looking at the spec of the thing, it could be money well spent for any budding MotoGP riders. The project is a collaboration between Aprilia and mini-bikes specialists Ovale, who have worked together to make this one-make series racing machine.
The bike is launched as an effort to boost the homegrown racing talent in Italy, as the country has fallen behind Spain in the race to grow the next generation of MotoGP superstars. The championship the bike is due to race in is considered, by the organisers, to be the perfect steppingstone for young riders looking to move into Moto3.
Weighing in at just 105kg, the RS250 SP makes 28bhp and features Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and superlight Marchesini wheels. It’s designed to be ridden from ages 11 and over though, so any of you reading this looking at it as an ideal trackday toy, you probably won’t fit!
There is no mention as to whether Aprilia is going to back the track bike up with a road-going example, if there is enough demand though, they might have to bow to pressure.
