Aprilia Patents Aerodynamic Leathers
Aprilia's RS-GP is adding even more winglets and ground-effect surfaces for the 2023 MotoGP season. After optimising the bike, Aprilia's aerodynamicists are now focusing on the rider.
Aprilia patents exposed some of the RS-GP's startling speed last year. The 2023 RS-GP builds on the company's innovative aerodynamics, which is why the bike appears different from the others. Given Aprilia and its rivals' attention to detail in reducing drag and increasing downforce, Noale is now looking at methods to make the rider's form cut through the air more smoothly.
Pierfrancesco Chili was the first to adopt Dainese's hump on his 500cc Honda in 1988. It was originally designed as a safety device, but Dainese credited Jean-Philippe Ruggia, riding in the 250cc class at the time, with discovering that the hump increased stability and decreased neck strain, inspiring the creation of more aerodynamic variants. Aprilia believes roadracing leathers may be made more aerodynamic, especially for land-speed record riders riding semi-streamliners.
The company's recent patent application references Yamaha's 2005 application for aero leathers with extra parts for the rider's sides, upper arms, thighs, and calves. The objective was to produce a smooth form while the rider was tucked in on straights, but Aprilia's new paper notes that the extra parts proved awkward and compromising when the rider changed position, such as during braking or bends.
The idea is to smooth airflow over the rider. Leathers tend to bunch up around the rider's lower torso.Aprilia
Aprilia's innovative design, like Yamaha's, smooths airflow over the rider when tucked in to reduce drag and increase peak speed on straights. However, it's more nuanced to avoid impeding the rider's movement. The outfit must also be crash-safe.
“Shells” on the rider's arms (31) are intended to smooth air flow around the rider’s forearms. While others pieces are added to the upper arms and shoulders (33). Aprilia
Adding "shell" features to crucial portions of the suit creates a smooth surface that improves aerodynamics and works better with the motorcycle's aero. The patent states that leathers with aero components might be created, however these shells are meant to be Velcro-attached to regular leathers. The rider has 10 primary components, five on each side. Starting at the front, the rider's forearm shells (No. 31) smooth airflow from the bike's handlebars. Upper arms and shoulders (No. 33) are likewise shelled.
The rider's biggest aero suit parts are fitted to either side. (No. 32). When a rider is tucked in on a straight, leathers get wrinkled and block airflow. The new design smooths this area.
The largest and perhaps most critical area is the rider’s waist area where the leathers tend to bunch up. Shells there would smooth the air and contribute the most to the bike’s aero.Aprilia
The rider's legs get shell pieces on each thigh (No. 38) and the lower leg (No. (No. 39). Knee slider is lower leg. The smoother forms will help the bike and rider cut through the air as the front of the thighs and lower legs are exposed to wind.
Another key area are the rider’s lower legs, that are typically out in the air. Shells on the lower leg would double as knee sliders. Aprilia
The Aprilia patent reveals that the outside skins of these removable aero segments are composed of plastic or a comparable, smooth material, but that they might be filled with foam, gel, or air for crash protection, as shown in cutaway figures. (Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the patent application). Aprilia's patent also claims that superior aerodynamics will lessen rider buffeting and turbulence, making the bike simpler to ride and less work. As MotoGP's struggle for aerodynamic supremacy grows, safety enhancements may be needed to convince race organisers to allow leathers. If it improves safety, banning it will be harder.
To ensure that the add-on pieces are safe, they could be filled with foam, gel, or even air. Aprilia
Will Aprilia's 2023 riders—Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró on the factory bikes and Raúl Fernández and Miguel Oliveira in the RNF satellite squad—try this? This makes sense given the amount of airflow observed everywhere on the bikes and MotoGP's ban on fairing aerodynamic modifications in-season.
