Aleix Espargaró is putting one of the most important motorcycles in Aprilia's modern MotoGP history under the hammer. The 2020 RS-GP he raced during the pandemic-disrupted season — complete with his number 41 on the fairing and part of his personal collection since 2022 — will be offered at the Iconic Motorcycle Sale on 15 November at the NEC in Birmingham, part of the Classic Motor Show organised by Iconic Auctioneers.
The estimate stands at between £200,000 and £300,000, and the winning bidder will not just take home the prototype. Espargaró is also handing over his full set of 2020 racing leathers, gloves, boots and helmet. The bike is described as being in running order, though Iconic Auctioneers warns that any new owner will need Aprilia's assistance before using it on track.
Yet the RS-GP's true value lies in what it represents. Aprilia's early factory years in MotoGP were difficult: after re-entering as a works team in 2015, the Noale manufacturer struggled for results with a narrow-angle V4. By the end of 2019, Espargaró — who had joined the project in 2017 after Suzuki let him go — was ready to walk away, convinced his efforts were going nowhere.
