Matt Walters to race Aprilia RSV4 1100 in ASBK

Walters to experience Aprilia for ASBK 2023

After virtually 15 years racing Kawasaki equipment Matt Walters is not going to be driving for Crew Inexperienced in season 2023, the 30-year-old is popping over a brand new leaf and making a daring transfer to Aprilia equipment for season 2023.

What makes this transfer significantly attention-grabbing is that Walters is not going to be racing on a 1000 cc RSV4, however on what is actually a base RSV4 1100.

That’s proper, attributable to particular dispensation from Motorcycling Australia, in response to a request from Crew Walters, Matt can be allowed to run the longer stroke 1099 cc engined machine in ASBK this yr.

We anticipate an replace to Motorcycling Australia’s Sporting Rules to be promulgated within the coming days to mirror the change.

Walters has simply ordered some race fairings from abroad, however it’s extremely uncertain they are going to make it in time for the official ASBK take a look at at SMP. In the event that they don’t flip up in time he’ll simply must deal with a significant lack of seat time main as much as the opening spherical.

The 2022 Aprilia RSV4 that Matt has taken supply of comes with Sachs suspension, nonetheless he’ll run Ok-Tech DDS suspension when it’s time for the ASBK season to get underway at Phillip Island in late February.

In normal kind, Aprilia declare 217 horsepower at 13,000 rpm from the 1,099cc RSV4, together with 125 Nm at 10,500 rpm.  In highway trim the RSV4 ideas the scales at 202 kg with 15 litres of gasoline within the 19-litre tank.

For comparability sake, the Ducati V4 R makes 218 horsepower in highway trim, or 240 horsepower  and 118 Nm with the observe equipment, and weighs round 10 kg lower than the Aprilia. Nonetheless, we all know that it’s fairly simple to get the Ducati right down to the 172 kg minimal weight mandated by Motorcycling Australia for ASBK competitors.

There isn’t any ‘equipment’ ECU nominated by Aprilia Australia so Matt can be operating the usual electronics equipment that comes on the highway going RSV4 and I feel it’s honest to say he isn’t going to have the ability to get the load of the bike right down to wherever close to the ASBK minimal, particularly as he’s racing the RSV4 ,and never the RSV4 Manufacturing unit that comes with trick Cast Marchesini rims.

In fact, ought to any actual benefit be proven, Motorcycling Australia has the appropriate, clearly acknowledged within the laws, to use efficiency balancing as they see match as a way to preserve equality amongst machines.  Any determination to use the balancing technique can be taken by ASBK Administration in session with the MA Highway Race fee when deemed essential to make sure honest competitors.

I’m typically 100 per cent in opposition to having totally different capability limits for various bikes, and at all times have been, but when this helps preserve somebody on the Australian Superbike grid, that in any other case would have hung up his leathers, and provides just a little further shot of selection to the ASBK area alongside the best way, then maybe it’s value a attempt in any case…

2023 ASBK Calendar

2023 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship introduced by Motul (ASBK)