Source: Gresini Racing.

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini will introduce its highly-anticipated seamless shift gearbox at this weekend’s Mugello round of MotoGP in Italy.

The factory Aprilia RS-GP entries of Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri will use the seamless gearbox in the race for the first time on both bikes.

The new transmission, seamless in downshifting as well, was successfully tested by Bautista in testing at the Jerez circuit earlier this month. Positive results encouraged the Noale racing division to streamline introducing this solution.

“Mugello, with everything that comes with a home round, represents another step in this season of growth for Aprilia,” explained Aprilia Racing manager Romano Albesiano. “It is a particularly important occasion because right here on the Tuscan track our seamless gear shift system will make its debut, available for both our riders.

“The positive feedback Bautista provided after the tests at Jerez immediately following the Spanish Grand Prix convinced us to speed up development on this solution in order to have it ready to race as soon as possible. As important as the new transmission is, in any case it will not be the only new feature.

“We have prepared various changes in terms of aerodynamics and chassis as well with respect to the bike that started off the season. All of this is part of our path of improvement which we hope to successfully move forward at Mugello.”

Entering Mugello Bautista is currently 20th in the world championship standings after scoring a single point for 15th at Austin, Jerez and Le Mans, while Melandri is yet to make it into the points.