Aprilia’s MotoGP technical chief Romano Albesiano is targeting consistent podium finishes for his team in 2020 and says the squad has more ideas than people to work on them.

Development of the RS-GP went backwards in 2018 but with test rider Bradley Smith on board, dovetailing with Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone - cosmetic surgery permitting - Albesiano believes the correct direction has been found.

“Technically I’m happy. We are, let’s say, on schedule on our programme and we are much stronger than the previous years,” said Albesiano.

“All the activity of the race department is focused on MotoGP, so we are taking the best, we are a better team in the garage, with two fantastic riders and a super strong test team with a fantastic rider there, Bradley. I think it’s the strongest Aprilia ever.

“Massimo has come, he’s bringing a new era in the department, a new strength, enthusiasm. And me for it’s fantastic because I can really do my job, what I really love. Day by day I go to my office with the right spirit.

We have a lot of ideas, a lot of things to develop - we have more ideas than people to develop them. The result we want to achieve - I think for the next year we have to be ready for fighting for podium in most of the races.

“This is our target, I believe so. It’s super-challenging but I think we have the possibility to do this.”

In Qatar, Espargaro rode the new RS-GP into the top ten, finishing close to the leaders and – most importantly – gleaning good sensations throughout the entire weekend.

On the track in the desert, growth was constant session after session, both for Espargaró and for Iannone. It was Iannone's debut race on the Aprilia V4 and the fact that he kept the gap behind the leading group to a minimum is a testament to his progress.