Editing Aprilia (section)

==History==
[[File:Aprilia plant, Scorzè.jpg|thumb|left|Aprilia plant in [[Scorzè]], Venice]]

=== Early days ===
Aprilia, named after the [[Pre-war automobile|pre-war]] [[Lancia Aprilia]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=#bearacer club |url=https://bearacerclub.aprilia.com/en/aprilia-world/history/aprilia-pegaso-the-flying-mythos/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222201711/https://bearacerclub.aprilia.com/en/aprilia-world/history/aprilia-pegaso-the-flying-mythos/ |archive-date=22 December 2023 }}</ref> was founded after the [[Second World War]] by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio as a bicycle production factory at [[Noale]], [[Italy]], in the province of [[Venice]]. Alberto's son, [[Ivano Beggio]], took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pullen |first=Greg |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1065523660 |title=A-Z of Italian motorcycle manufactures |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-78500-488-9 |location=Wiltshire |oclc=1065523660}}</ref> The first production Aprilia [[mopeds]] were named Colibrì, Daniela, and Packi. Aprilia later produced a [[motocross]] bike in 1970 called the Scarabeo. Produced until the end of the 1970s, the Scarabeo came in 50 and 125 cc versions.,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=#bearacer club |url=https://bearacerclub.aprilia.com/en/aprilia-world/history/aprilia-pegaso-the-flying-mythos/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222201711/https://bearacerclub.aprilia.com/en/aprilia-world/history/aprilia-pegaso-the-flying-mythos/ |archive-date=22 December 2023 }}</ref> was founded after [[Second World War|World War II]] by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio as a bicycle production factory. 

In 1977, Ivan Alborghetti from [[Milan]], Italy won the Italian 125 and 250 cc motocross championships on Aprilia motorcycles. In 1978, Alborghetti closed the season with two third places in individual races and sixth place in the World Championship. In the 1980s, Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc and in 1981, Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine. In 1983, Aprilia launched the St 125 road bike and in 1984, they launched an improved model called STX as well as an enduro, called the ET 50.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aprilia ET50 Rv4-3 LC |url=https://www.mopedarmy.com/forums/read.php?2,4631357 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.mopedarmy.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Remarkable History of Aprilia |url=https://www.vikingbags.com/blogs/news/the-remarkable-history-of-aprilia |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Viking Bags |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2024|reason=not a reliable source (WP:RS), added by a novice editor}}

In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian company [[Rotax]]. In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX. In 1986, Aprilia launched the AF1, a small sports model; and the Tuareg, a large tanked bike for African rallies like the [[Dakar Rally]]. Aprilia factory rider Philippe Berlatier contended for the trials world championship reaching fifth place, and [[Loris Reggiani]] rode an Aprilia GP 250 with Rotax engine to sixth place in the road racing World Championship. Two seasons later, on August 30, 1987, at [[San Marino Grand Prix]] in Misano Loris Reggiani's AF1 won the first World Speed Championship.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=THE HISTORY OF APRILIA |url=https://press.piaggiogroup.com/en_EN/post/show/146743/the-history-of-aprilia.html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=press.piaggiogroup.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics. Later, in 1992 Aprilia rider [[Alessandro Gramigni]] won the World 125 Road Racing Championship title. Also in 1992, Tommy Ahvala won the [[World Trials Championship]] on an Aprilia Climber. Since then, Aprilia has 124 times won 125 and 250 cc class Grand Prix, 15 Road Racing World Championship titles, and 16 European speed titles. Many world champions started on Aprilia such as [[Max Biaggi|Biaggi]], [[Loris Capirossi|Capirossi]], [[Gramigni]], Locatelli, Sakata and [[Valentino Rossi|Rossi]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1995, Aprilia commissioned [[Philippe Starck]] to design the Motò which was shown in [[New York's Modern Art Museum]]. Also in 1995, Aprilia launched the [[two stroke]] RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes. In 1998, Aprilia launched the [[Aprilia RSV Mille|RSV Mille]], a 1000cc [[V-twin engine|V-Twin]] Superbike, and the [[Aprilia SL1000 Falco|Falco]], a 1000cc V-Twin [[Sport touring|sport tourer]] with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of a [[Rotax]] 1000cc engine.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In 1999, Aprilia entered World Superbike Championship racing with its RSV Mille, and during 2000, Aprilia acquired Moto-Guzzi and Laverda, both historic heritage Italian marques. In 2000, Aprilia launched the 50&nbsp;cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also the [[Aprilia Futura|RST Futura]], a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; an [[adventure touring]] motorcycle. Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000&nbsp;cc V-Twin.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched the [[Aprilia Tuono|RSV Mille Tuono]] which was essentially an RSV Mille with motocross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year. In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA, to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

With the acquisition by Piaggio, the new President of Aprilia is [[Roberto Colaninno]] (President of Piaggio & C.), and the managing director is Rocco Sabelli. The son of the founder, Ivano Beggio, was the Honorary President and died on 13 March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aprilia founder Ivano Beggio dies, aged 73 - Carole Nash|url=https://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/news/aprilia-founder-ivano-beggio-dies-aged-73/|website=Carole Nash|access-date=13 March 2018|date=13 March 2018}}</ref> On 15 August 2010, Aprilia became the most successful motorcycle racing brand in history, surpassing fellow Italian [[MV Agusta]] with a record 276th victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/162486/1/aprilia_celebrates_record_gp_win.html |title=Aprilia celebrates record GP win {{pipe}} MotoGP News {{pipe}} Aug 2010 |publisher=Crash.Net |date=2010-08-18 |access-date=2011-06-02}}</ref>