Aprilia bosses hit out at performance of MotoGP team

Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl were both part of a group of five riders deemed to have jumped the start and handed ride-through penalties at the Red Bull Ring.

Bradl then had to serve his penalty a second time, owing to a communication mix-up that meant he stopped his RS-GP during the first visit to pitlane, meaning it could not be classed as completing the ride-through.

The pair eventually finished 16th and 19th.

"Today Aprilia had everything needed to demonstrate the progress the RS-GP has made," said Roberto Colaninno, the CEO and managing director of Aprilia's parent company Piaggio Group.

"From the first race of the season, the new bike has gradually improved and we cannot accept the fact that human error - whether having to do with technical management or how the race is conducted - keeps us from demonstrating our true value and achieving the results that Aprilia and this bike deserve.

"I have complete confidence in [racing manager] Romano Albesiano and in the new bike, but we need to roll up our sleeves and continue working every day in order to be prepared for the next race and to resume that growth trend that we had shown up to now."

Bautista and Bradl are leaving Aprilia at the end of the current campaign, being replaced by Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaro and Moto2 frontrunner Sam Lowes.

"I am the first to be furious with the outcome of today's race," Albesiano added.

"If he had not had any problems, Alvaro would have easily finished in the top 10.

"We cannot accept that, after all this work, our potential is squandered because our riders are distracted at the start and because of trivial mistakes on our part in managing the messages on the dashboard.

"As professionals like Alvaro and Stefan, I expect concentration and maximum commitment until the end of the year.

"I want to call the entire team to put in extra effort that will lead us to working nonstop, even over the August holiday, in order to prepare for the race at Brno.

"We have a chance to redeem ourselves straight away and we absolutely cannot fall short of achieving the results that are within our potential."