SEPANG: Aprilia Racing admit their RS-GP machine still struggles in certain sections of the Sepang International Circuit, particularly when accelerating out of slow corners following heavy braking.
The weakness remains a major challenge for the Italian manufacturer as it continues its pursuit of a maiden premier-class MotoGP victory in Malaysia.
Piaggio Group Motorsport Communications director Antonio Boselli said Aprilia had made significant improvements throughout the 2026 season, but several aspects of the motorcycle still needed refinement to ensure the team could compete consistently across all circuits.
He identified acceleration out of low-speed corners following heavy braking as one of the main areas requiring improvement, particularly in Sepang’s final sector.
“Sepang has always been one of the circuits where Aprilia Racing have struggled to achieve their best performance. It is one of the tracks that highlights the areas of the motorcycle we still need to improve, especially in the final sector.
“We still need to improve our performance when exiting slow corners after heavy braking. Sepang has many heavy braking zones, and the final corner is the best example of an area where we still need to improve,” he said in an interview during the 2026 Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 5.543km Sepang circuit features two long straights, fast corners and several heavy braking zones.
Its layout demands not only high top speeds but also strong braking stability and rapid acceleration out of corners.
However, Boselli stressed that Aprilia’s struggles at Sepang did not reflect the overall capabilities of the RS-GP26, which has emerged as one of the most competitive motorcycles in this season’s world championship.
He said Aprilia had outperformed their rivals at several circuits while making substantial progress in the overall development of the machine.
“At some circuits this year, we have actually been more competitive than our rivals. So, in certain conditions, the RS-GP26 has become the benchmark for other motorcycles.
“If I had to choose one area where we have made the biggest progress, it would be aerodynamics. I think Aprilia Racing have become one of the main references in MotoGP aerodynamic development,” he said.
Beyond aerodynamics, improvements to the RS-GP26 have also involved its V4 engine, electronics, chassis and swingarm, contributing to greater stability and overall performance.
The motorcycle’s capabilities were demonstrated at the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika, where four Aprilia riders occupied the top four positions, led by race winner Marco Bezzecchi.
Aprilia also showed their competitiveness at Sepang, with Bezzecchi finishing third in the sprint race, while Ai Ogura of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team took fourth.
Boselli said the increasingly intense competition in MotoGP required manufacturers to pay close attention to every component of their motorcycles, as even minor improvements could make the difference between victory, a podium finish or missing out on valuable championship points.
He also described Sepang as one of the most important circuits in Aprilia’s development programme, given its role as a venue for MotoGP pre-season testing.
The circuit’s combination of different corner types, long straights and tropical weather conditions allows engineers to collect valuable data and identify weaknesses in their motorcycles before the season begins.
“Sepang is very important to us. We conduct testing here, and it helps with the development of the motorcycle.
“At the same time, we are determined to win at Sepang because Aprilia have never won a MotoGP race here.
“Winning at a circuit with such great history and tradition would mean a lot to us,” he said.
Ducati are the most successful manufacturer at Sepang with nine MotoGP victories, followed by Yamaha and Honda with six each.
Aprilia are still chasing their maiden premier-class victory in Malaysia, making improvements to the RS-GP’s performance in the final sector a crucial factor in achieving that ambition.