Source: Supplied.

Milwaukee Aprilia has debuted with Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori at this week’s Jerez World Superbike test, despite dreary conditions on day one.

The team will run the RSV4 for the first time over the next three days, as they look to lay the foundations for a strong 2017 campaign.

“My MotoGP racing season only finished a week ago, but I am already itching to get going with 2017 in WorldSBK,” said Laverty ahead of his return. “The RSV4 is the bike I remember most of my success on, and I got to sit on it for the first time last night, which felt like coming home.

“I’m already impressed by the preparations of SMR and Aprilia, to arrive at a test in November with the trucks and box prepped like a race weekend shows that the team are a very professional outfit and keen to get going. They are obviously very motivated and I am motivated to get winning again.

“I’m not too unhappy about the prospect of wet weather for the test, because I’d like to test the Pirelli wet tyres ahead of next year. There is some stiff competition for us in 2017 and some of them are at this test, so I’m keen to get out on track and see how we stack up against them.”

Announced in the back-half of this season, the Aprilia factory-supported team marks the partnering of Aprilia Racing and the UK-based Shaun Muir Racing. Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori will saddle the Aprilias, with their targets set high for the 2017 season.