Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory Transformers livery - Click above for high-res image gallery
General Motors isn't the only vehicle manufacturer with an interest in promoting the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen flick, as evidenced by last weekend's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike at Road America in Wisconsin. Italian motorcycle maker Aprilia used the race to unveil fresh new livery for the RSV 1000 Factory race bike ridden by Ben Thompson, who currently sits 22nd in the points standings and finished in 41st position at the end of Saturday's race and 20th on Sunday. Naturally, you can expect to see a large Aprilia-shaped cameo in the movie, which is slated to hit a theater near you on June 24th.
Of course, the most interesting development from Aprilia is the new V4-powered 2010 RSV 4 superbike, which also made an appearance at Road America in Wisconsin over the weekend. Currently, the RSV 4 is doing battle in World Superbike competition, where rider Max Biaggi has scored 126 points and currently sits in fifth position in the overall standings. That's mighty impressive considering this is the bike's first year in competition.
[Source: Aprilia]
PRESS RELEASE:
Aprilia USA Brought Hollywood to Road Racing with Blockbuster Debut
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen inspired Aprilia race bike unveiled during action-packed Road America weekend
NEW YORK, NY – June 6, 2009 – Aprilia USA added a special dose of Hollywood blockbuster excitement to the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike series when it unveiled a one-of-a-kind Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen inspired race bike today. This special stealth edition of an Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory competition machine made its debut during Round 6 of the road racing series at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.
The aggressively styled Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Aprilia bike revved up excitement for the June 24 opening of one of this year's most anticipated movies among an estimated audience of over 70,000 race fans.
Enthusiasts had plenty of chances to see the bike up close, on the track, online and will be able to watch it during a future segment of AMA Pro Prime Time on SpeedTV. Following its Paddock debut, KWS Factory Aprilia Millenium Technologies rider Ben Thompson (97) took the bike to the starting grid twice. Race 1 of the Daytona SportBike was at 4 p.m., Saturday, June 6 and Race 2 begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 7. In addition to his exclusive ride, Thompson waged an equally ferocious helmet, whose design matches the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen theme.
In addition, Aprilia hosted an exclusive Midwest unveiling of the revolutionary 2010 RSV 4 Factory streetbike. Expected to transform the production superbike category with its unique blend of brutal power, Italian style and technical innovation, this was the very first Midwest appearance of the Aprilia RSV 4. It is the only RSV 4 currently on U.S. soil.
Aprilia and superbike fans also had the chance to test the latest motorcycles from the Italian manufacturer by partaking in the Aprilia Adventure: Road America. For riders who want to experience the adrenaline rush of Aprilia motorcycles, the Aprilia Adventure is the antidote to the traditional short demo ride. Instead of a few minutes riding through traffic, enthusiasts had plenty of time to fully appreciate the real capabilities of the bikes. Along the way, participants also enjoyed hospitality, refreshments and an Aprilia gift bag. The Aprilia Adventure was open to licensed riders with proper riding gear for $20.00 per person.
