Aprilia RS 660 wins MotoAmerica season opener at Daytona
HANK VOSSBERG (ROBEM ENGINEERING) TRIUMPHS IN RACE 1 AND SECURES PODIUM IN RACE 2; PARRISH TAKES POLE POSITION ON THE ITALIAN BIKE
Aprilia enjoyed a stellar season opener in MotoAmerica. Hank Vossberg emerged as a standout protagonist in the inaugural round of the Twins Cup—the American championship’s intermediate class—claiming victory in Race 1. He also took a crucial podium in Race 2 at the historic Daytona International Speedway.
From Friday’s opening practice session, the 15-year-old talent racing for Robem Engineering displayed an immediate feel for the Aprilia RS 660. That potential was fully realised on Saturday. Starting from seventh on the grid, Vossberg stormed to a solo victory in Race 1. He crossed the finish line with a 4.446-second lead over his nearest rival. Additionally, he set the fastest lap of the race at 1:56.846. The American rider maintained his momentum in Race 2. He finished third—just 0.058 seconds behind the winner—in a sprint shortened to six laps due to a red flag. Vossberg now sits second in the overall standings. He trails the leader by only four points.
It was a consistent weekend for Aprilia overall. Twenty RS 660s lined up for the Twins Cup, representing more than half the grid. Among them, Chris Parrish delivered a standout performance. The Ghetto Customs rider secured the first pole position of the season with a time of 1:57.625. This further proved the Italian bike’s competitiveness at Daytona. Parrish went on to secure a top-five finish in Race 1.
HANK VOSSBERG
“Race 1 went really well; we got a great start and stayed with the lead group. I made a move to get to the front and tried to break away, managing to maintain a strong pace. Everything clicked, and I tried to repeat that on Saturday, but the red flag situation resulted in higher rear tire pressure. The bike was sliding a lot, and they managed to catch me in the final stages of the race. Overall, though, the balance is positive—we took home solid points, and that’s what matters.”