According to a release from Aprilia, Regis Laconi will pilot the new Aprilia GP1 machine.

"It gives me particular pleasure to know that our finest motorcycle will be in the hands of a man with such feeling and character", said Aprilia President, Ing. Ivano Beggio, just after he had entrusted this new assignment to the young Frenchman. "Passion and feeling are the most important ingredients in what we have put at stake since we decided to take up this challenge. In terms of motivation, this is where our project and Regis Laconi's temperament coincide. What particularly struck me about this lad is his sincerity: his one, overpowering desire is to be the rider on our bike. I feel he is the right man for us. I wish Laconi the very best of luck and I am sure he has all the qualities needed to carry our project forward and help us realize our ambition."

Laconi will get a special award from Aprilia for being a good guy and tending to Troy Bayliss after their multiple crash at Imola.

"I've spent long, sleepless nights ever since I first saw the new Aprilia "Cube". And my mind's been on one track ever since: I've just got to be on that bike" - these were Regis Laconi's first words as, almost hushed by emotion, he heard from the President that he was to be given this new assignment. "This is a great honor and a huge responsibility - one that marks a new departure for my career. I'm going to fight to the finish to win on the new Aprilia. I've got a "Latin" temperament and you'll see all the passion and determination I put into the things I really believe in. I'm truly grateful to the President and to all the technicians at Noale for the trust they've placed in me. I'm not going to let them down. The challenge is open now."