Aprilia Logo

Aprilia is an Italian company that manufactures motorcycles and scooters. It appeared in 1945, right after World War II. It was founded in the city of Noale in the province of Venice. It was there that the industrialist Alberto Beggio opened a bicycle assembly business, which eventually grew into a major motorcycle company. It is currently owned by the Piaggio Corporation, which bought it in 2004 and made it it’s subsidiary.

At first, the plant was engaged in the production of bicycles, then – low-power motorcycles. But twenty-three years later, Ivano Beggio, son of Alberto, reoriented the production strategy and produced a motorcycle with an extensive engine – 50 cubic centimeters. As a result, the company slightly changed its specialization and released several motorcycles with improved characteristics. The first models were called Packi, Daniela, and Colibri. A few years later, the Scarabeo motocross motorcycle was introduced. It was equipped with 50 and 125 cubic centimeters motors. This series lasted until the late 1970s.

But the firm didn’t just make motorcycles – it tested them. So, in 1977, the Italian racer Ivan Alborghetti won the national motocross championship on the Aprilias. In the 1980s, the company expanded its product range by adding several improved series: TL320, ST 125, STX, and ET 50. These are not only racing but also road, road, and lightweight custom enduro.

In 1985, the company began producing engines for the Austrian company Rotax. A year later, she had a compact model AF1 and a large model for large-scale races such as the Dakar Rally. Moreover, the plant had its athlete who finished fifth in the trial championship. It was Philippe Berlatier. Another (Loris Reggiani) won sixth place in the World Road Rally Championship. He raced the Aprilia GP 250. In 1987, the driver won the first World Speed ​​Championship, held as part of the San Marino Grand Prix. Then the athlete competed in Misano on AF1.

The company’s arsenal still has an incredible set of won races on its motorcycles of various modifications. Aprilia has won the Grand Prix 124 times on motorcycles with large capacity engines (125 and 250cc) after a series of brilliant victories in the 1992 World Road and Trawl Championships. She also has 15 high-profile titles in the Road Racing World Championship and 16 in speed rallies in Europe. This is why the Aprilia emblem is well-known all over the world. Moreover, most of the world champions performed on her technique. In the 1990s, scooters were introduced to the brand.