2009 Mike di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250 – With Phil Aynsley
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-003-1024x887.jpg)
Following on from a previous column featuring the Carlos Lavado YZR250, here is the second 250cc GP machine I shot in France at this time, the Aprilia RSA 250 raced by Mike Di Meglio in 2009.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-009-1024x741.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-006-1024x653.jpg)
Factory Aprilia RSA 250 that Mike Di Meglio rode to a not so brilliant 14th place at Valencia in 2009.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-010-1024x683.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-022-1024x698.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-012-683x1024.jpg)
The historic part is that was the last race of the 250cc World Championships – Moto 2 was introduced the following year.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-002-1024x646.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-007-1024x669.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-008-1024x751.jpg)
Leased by Team Aspar-Mapfre it was returned to Aprilia at the end of the season and is untouched from completing the race, apart from the wheels & tyres.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-019-743x1024.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-025-1024x660.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-024-683x1024.jpg)
The main difference from the 2008 bike is the use of the APX2 ECU which (apart from the relevant two-stroke settings) was the same unit as used by the MotoGP bikes.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-020-1024x683.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-004-1024x683.jpg)
RSA specific parts include the chassis and carbon swingarm and DellOrto VHSK 42mm PWM carburettors. An Ohlins TTX front fork is used.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-016-683x1024.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-015-1024x670.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-017-1024x671.jpg)
Power output for the 2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250 was over 110hp.
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-005-1024x683.jpg)
![2009 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia RSA 250](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PA-2009-Mike-Di-Meglio-Aprilia-RSA-250-013-1024x683.jpg)