VIDEO: A test of the exotic Aprilia V Twin MXV450
Next year Triumph will come to motocross with a complete MX2 team and there are also increasing rumors that Ducati wants to take the same step in 2025. However, it is not the first time that motorcycle brands from road racing have taken the step to motocross. The last time this happened was in 2007 when Aprilia came up with an exotic machine with the type designation MXV450.
The Aprilia was different from an ordinary dirt bike in every way. The engine was mounted in a tubular chassis, but was part of the load-bearing structure. That engine in particular was quite special because it was a V-shaped two-cylinder with electronic fuel injection. The Italian brand was not a pioneer because in 1981 both Honda and Gilera had an experimental two-cylinder dirt bike, but it was quickly banned by the FIM.
When Aprilia came out with the MXV450, that rule was revoked, but a little later the two-cylinder was banned by the AMA. The rules in the US are different from those of the Motocross World Championship. To participate in the AMA Supercross and Nationals, a brand is only allowed if the model offered produces at least 400 units. No exact figures are known for the MXV450, but it appears that they never reached the threshold of 400 units. Afterwards, the American Motorcycle Association removed all doubts by definitively making the twin-cylinder illegal for competition.
We here in Europe mainly remember the achievements of some Belgians and a New Zealander on the Aprilia. Both Manuel Priem and Cédric Melotte were active on the Italians' machine, but Alessio Chiodi, Julien Bill and Joshua Coppins were also factory riders for Team Aprilia. The latter wanted to become the first rider in history to win a GP motocross on a two-cylinder. The idea was great but unfortunately a bit too ambitious. “The Lizard” finished 2010th in the MX12 World Championship in 1 and then retired permanently as a motocross rider.
Our British friends at 999lazer were able to get their hands on an MXV450 for a test. They also looked in more detail at the technology used by the engineers on the Aprilia motocross bike.
Tekst: Danny Hermans
Photos: archive
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