The company initially consisted of Slovenian motorcycle racer Igor Akrapovič, who tuned his own motorcycles before starting to work on those of others – even his rivals! This passion led him to start his own business, primarily just racing motorcycle exhausts, from which he soon expanded into the mainstream motorcycle market as well as the car sector.
Three decades after its inception, the company operates from two high-tech sites in Slovenia, with over 1,400 employees. Its headquarters are in Ivančna Gorica, where the racing department is located, and the entire production process, from tube making to final assembly, takes place at Črnomelj.
Racing is a huge part of the Akrapovič DNA. The company’s first victory in a World Championship race was secured by Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) in WorldSBK in 1997, with the first World Championship title in 2000, when Colin Edwards triumphed in WorldSBK on his Honda.
Entering MotoGP™ in 2002 and building a path to create the most sought-after exhausts on the grid, Akrapovič secured its first premier class win in 2011 and won its maiden MotoGP™ Championship a year later, and then another title in 2015. All three milestones were achieved by Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha, and the third one marked the 100th motorsport title for the Slovenian company. This number has now risen to over 140, with many of those coming in Moto2™ and Moto3™ and including the reigning MotoGP™ Champion, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
Akrapovič is the only exhaust manufacturer that provides exhaust systems to MotoGP™, Moto2™, and Moto3™ teams – and not just on a supply basis. It is also a technical partner, working closely in the development phase and in ongoing collaboration between the two parties. In 2021, five factory teams on the MotoGP™ grid – 17 out of 22 riders – have Akrapovič exhaust systems on their machines.
Akrapovič has spent 30 years building its heritage. This heritage keeps expanding and developing, thanks to the dedication of its staff and the passion and belief invested in it by riders, racers, and teams.