Aprilia stunned the MotoGP paddock at the San Marino Grand Prix in Misano by unveiling a striking all-white livery for Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin's RS-GPs. The livery, named 'Perla Bianca' (White Pearl), is more than just a color change; it celebrates 80 years of Vespa, the legendary Piaggio brand, and is inspired by Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve. The announcement came ahead of Sunday's race, after Bezzecchi secured pole position with a new lap record.
The white livery mimics the white racing suit Villeneuve wore to victory at the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix. That suit proudly displayed the Piaggio Vespa logo. Aprilia has adapted this element onto their race bikes, complete with Villeneuve's signature on the front fairing. 'Perla Bianca' itself means 'White Pearl' in Italian, reflecting the beauty and heritage of Vespa.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola explained the tribute: "In the 80 years of Vespa, an icon that has come through generations and still represents a symbol recognised the world over, we would have been remiss not to celebrate the bond with Gilles Villeneuve, one of the most beloved drivers in Formula 1 history," he said. Rivola added that Villeneuve made millions of fans fall in love with his talent and his way of interpreting racing, just as Vespa has won over millions of people. "Bringing that memory back to Misano for our home race is a way of celebrating two icons which – although belonging to different worlds – left a deep mark on history and the collective imaginary of millions of people."
Interestingly, there is a brilliant coincidence with the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Madrid being held this weekend. Rivola noted that at Jarama in 1981, Villeneuve took his last victory, the same year of the racing suit they chose to re-interpret. This adds a layer of history to the Misano race weekend, which is Aprilia's home event.
The GV27 heritage brand added: "From the historic Vespa logo to Gilles' signature on the front screen and new team livery, Aprilia Racing has created a breathtaking tribute. We are honoured to celebrate Vespa's 80th anniversary milestone together." This collaboration not only celebrates Vespa but also ties two different motorsport worlds into one powerful narrative.
On track, Marco Bezzecchi will be aiming for his fifth grand prix win of the season on Sunday at Misano. He impressed by smashing the lap record in qualifying to take pole. However, in Saturday's sprint, he had to settle for second after Ducati's Marc Marquez overtook him into Turn 1 on the opening lap. That incident shows the fierce competition at the front, and Bezzecchi must bounce back to secure a home win for Aprilia.
Meanwhile, his teammate Jorge Martin leads the championship by 14 points after finishing third in the sprint. Bezzecchi is 22 points adrift in third. With the special livery and home support, Aprilia hopes to turn the momentum at Misano. Sunday's race is not just about points; it's about celebrating Vespa's heritage and Villeneuve's enduring spirit in racing.
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