Aprilia RS660 fires into life as EICMA launch countdown begins

Among the many reveals to come at the annual motorcycle extravaganza that is EICMA, the Aprilia RS660 instantly elevated itself to the top of the ‘most anticipated’ list this week when the Italian firm confirmed the supersport machine would be making its official bow.

Considered one of – if not ‘the’ – star of the show in concept form last year, the Aprilia RS660 returns for 2019 sporting its showroom ready wings and plates before it likely hits the road in 2020.

For now, Aprilia have done an excellent job at keeping the machine well under wraps before the big day – unlike the steady stream of spy shots that dampened Ducati’s launches – but it is now feeling compelled to drop a teaser which doesn’t show much, but gives us some audible pleasure.

In typically unsubtle style, the 30-second spot is all flashing lights, pounding drums and heavy workout routines performed by Aprilia’s MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone.

As for the motorcycle itself, we get a chance to hear what the ‘beast’ is packing from the 660cc V twin and it all sounds deliciously meaty. We don’t ‘see’ much of the Aprilia RS660 but save for those pesky legally necessary adds-on we expect it to look almost identical to last year’s beautifully finished, dynamic looking concept.

Incidentally, if you think it’s a somewhat ostentatious ‘showy’ teaser with an abundance of clips starring a sweaty Iannone doing all manner of hardcore training, then we implore you head to his Instagram account which is entertainingly (though not supposed to be) Love Island-inspired with plenty of shirtless poses of him looking away from the camera.

If he wasn’t a MotoGP rider, the ‘Maniac’ would be a great influencer…