Aleix Espargaro's 2020 Aprilia MotoGP Bike Up for Auction in February

Aleix Espargaró, one of the most influential figures in modern Aprilia MotoGP history, is set to auction his personal Aprilia RS-GP20, a factory-spec MotoGP prototype that represents a crucial turning point for the Italian manufacturer. The motorcycle will go under the hammer at a UK-based auction organized by Iconic Auctioneers, drawing global attention from collectors and motorsport enthusiasts alike.

The RS-GP20 was campaigned during the 2020 MotoGP season, a year that marked significant technical progress for Aprilia. Powered by a newly developed V90 engine, the bike featured a host of cutting-edge upgrades, including advanced aerodynamics, a redesigned double-rail aluminium frame, and a seamless transmission system. These developments helped lay the foundation for Aprilia’s eventual rise to competitiveness in the premier class.

Espargaró raced the RS-GP20 alongside British rider Bradley Smith, and while podiums were elusive at the time, the machine proved pivotal in shaping the future direction of the RS-GP project. Recognizing his role in the bike’s development, Aprilia gifted Espargaró the motorcycle in 2022, making him its first and only private owner. Since then, it has been carefully preserved in his personal collection and has not been run for an extended period.

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The motorcycle will headline “The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2026”, scheduled for February 22 at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry. Adding further exclusivity to the offering, Espargaró is also auctioning his race-used helmet, leathers, boots, and gloves from the same 2020 season, creating a complete and highly desirable MotoGP memorabilia package.

Importantly, the RS-GP20 is being offered in its untouched, original factory condition. It retains its original Marelli ignition system and boasts an elite specification that includes an Akrapovič exhaust, bespoke Öhlins suspension, Brembo braking system with carbon front discs, and a full carbon-fibre bodywork package—components rarely, if ever, seen outside factory garages.

Now serving as one of Honda’s primary MotoGP test riders, Espargaró is most closely associated with Aprilia, the brand he helped transform. After a difficult stint with Suzuki from 2015 to 2016, he joined the Noale-based manufacturer during one of the most challenging phases of its MotoGP program. Introduced in 2015, the RS-GP initially struggled for competitiveness, but Espargaró’s feedback and leadership proved instrumental in guiding its development.

His efforts paid off as the RS-GP evolved into a genuine front-running machine by 2022, securing podiums and victories and establishing Aprilia as a serious title contender. Even following Espargaró’s retirement from full-time MotoGP racing at the end of 2024, the RS-GP remains one of the strongest bikes on the grid—an enduring legacy of his contribution.

For collectors, this auction represents far more than the sale of a motorcycle. It is a rare opportunity to own a pivotal piece of MotoGP engineering history, directly linked to the rider who helped elevate Aprilia from the back of the grid to the front of the field.

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