Although the deal has not yet been signed, Autosport understands that the intention of both parties is to sign it before the next round of the calendar in Barcelona next week.
Everything is in place for RNF, the former Sepang Racing Team (SRT), headed by Razlan Razali, to stop racing Yamaha bikes after four years.
The teams met at Le Mans to settle the matter, but Yamaha asked Razali for more time until Mugello, where the Italian Grand Prix takes place this weekend.
However, the response the Malaysian executive got back in Italy seems to have left him unsatisfied.
It is still unclear whether Yamaha will compete next season with just two bikes, which on paper will be Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, or whether they will team up with another team in view of the void left by Suzuki.
Aprilia have been considering the possibility of a satellite team for some time, although a lack of infrastructure on the one hand and a lack of offers on the other have delayed the consolidation of the project.
A few weeks ago, however, Massimo Rivola, Aprilia’s racing CEO, acknowledged to Autosport that this route was not yet dead: “If we receive interesting offers that can make the project grow, we will evaluate it”.
Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing
Photo by: Marc Fleury
Razali is reportedly unsatisfied with the treatment received from Yamaha, especially for the high price he has to pay for the rental of his two bikes – which considerably higher than the amount asked by Aprilia or Ducati.
While waiting for the deal to be finalised, Aprilia and RNF are already discussing who will be the two riders who will make up the team.
WithU, RNF’s main sponsor this season, is an Italian company, and would therefore welcome a switch from Yamaha to Aprilia.
One of the best placed riders to land there is Celestino Vietti, current leader of the Moto2 World Championship.
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