Aprilia signing Fabiano Sterlacchini as technical director for the 2025 MotoGP season is a “big change” seen as necessary for the Italian ✨m🐼anufacturer.

Sterlacchi♒ni previously served 17 years with Ducati and held the role of technic✅al director before departing for KTM in 2021.

Earlier this year, KTM confirmed Sterlacchini had parted ways with the Austrian manufacturer and was reported in the summer as being in advan🤡ced talks with Honda.

However, on Friday at the Japanese Gran💯d Prix, Aprilia announced it had signed Sterlacchini to replace Honda-bound Romano Albesiano as its technical director.

Jorge Martin, who joinಞs Aprilia next year, hasn’t had exper൲ience of working with Sterlacchini 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 change, so I’m really happy that they did it.

“But 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 KT𓂃M. So, I think the knowhow will be really good for Aprilia.”

Martin’s future team-mate Marco Bezzecchi added: “I neᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚver had the possibilit🐠y to speak to him in person.

“Anyway, I know he’s a very, very nice engineer and he made some very nic✱e work in Ducati, but also KTM.

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

“So, I don’t know if my opinion is very good right now because I’m very focused on what I’m doing r🦩ight now.

“Anyway, for me it’s good news. I think they𒀰 are really charged, an✅d they want to improve and fight for good positions.

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

Current factory Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, whoജ 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” it needs.

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

“The journey has been amazing. So, hats of꧙f for his job. But I think also Aprilia needs a ♔big change.

“It’s a big boost for everyone at Noale. They chan🐼ge the riders, they have new crew chiefs, the𒀰y will have new technical director.

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