THIS is the first official picture of the new Aprilia RSV4 R, leaked from Italy.

With Aprilia, Factory is the term they use for their top-spec bikes. Unless you count the original 1998 RSV Mille; in which case the RSV 'R' was the top-spec bike and there was no Factory option. But now the RSV4 will come in two flavours, RSV4-R (basic) and RSV4-Factory (trick). Confused? Well you may not be but we are.

Anyway, back to the RSV4-R.

Aprilia has chosen the revamped Imola Circuit in Italy, the twelfth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship - which takes place there this weekend - to unveil the R version of their RSV4 to the general public.

The RSV4-R is a essentially a base model of the ultra-exotic RSV4, cutting costs by using less-expensive parts - including the suspension - which will no longer be fully-adjustable Ohlins front and rear. It is also rumoured to lose the carbon fibre fairing and ultra lightweight wheels and the Brembo brakes will be standard radial items and not the WSB-mimicking monoblocs on the RSV4 Factory.

We expect the price to be around £12,000.