Aprilia MotoGP team joins forces with tractor giant

The name might be more readily associated with tractors, harvesters, and myriad other forms of farming equipment, but now Case IH is set to shift gears and run at a pace reserved for the world’s best motorcycle riders…

A part of CNH Industrial, Case IH has just announced its sponsorship of the Aprilia Racing team for the 2022 MotoGP Championship, which kicks off with the Grand Prix of Qatar on March 6.

Case IH says the deal pairs two businesses at the “pinnacle of technical innovation” in their respective fields. Case IH pioneered the world’s first articulated rubber-tracked high-horsepower tractor, the Quadtrac, while Aprilia Racing – a part of Itay’s Piaggio Group – was racked up no fewer than 54 world titles across a wide variety of motorcycle sports disciplines.

And this season, Aprilia Racing riders Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Vinales will be vying for top honours with Case IH’s backing.

“The advanced technology fitted on our equipment is comparable with anything in motorsport,” says Mirco Romagnoli (pictured, left), Vice-President Case IH and STEYR Europe.

“And Case IH and Aprilia Racing share much more – the demand for high performance and power, the prestige of our brands and the passion behind them, plus the teamwork and competitiveness necessary to perform at the highest level.

“This is why we are delighted to partner with Aprilia Racing, one of the leading constructors in MotoGP, and we believe we will share the same levels of success on the track and in the field. Uptime and reliability are critical in both motorsport racing and daily farming operations, while analysis of data is a key element of success in fields and on test and race tracks.

“Whether aiming to win races and championships, or targeting productive planting and harvesting seasons, thorough planning and the understanding of millions of data variables are fundamental. We share risks associated with weather and many variables that mean strategies must constantly be reconsidered.”

Meanwhile Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola (pictured, right) said he was thrilled to be partnering with Case IH.

“I’m really looking forward to the next season with Case IH on our side, and I hope fans of both brands are ready to race with us,” he said.

“In terms of worldwide challenges and strong performances, we share the same winning attitude and desire for success. We also believe in innovation and teamwork, two key aspects when you're competing on a top-level platform: the MotoGP World Championship for Aprilia Racing, the global market for Case IH.”