MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro: ‘I can’t be happy, our rivals had lots of new parts’

Aleix Espargaro has bemoaned the lack of upgrades from Aprilia at last month’s Valencia MotoGP test after seeing rivals bring new ideas to the table.
Aleix Espargaro, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November
Aleix Espargaro, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November

Espargaro’s dream of becoming MotoGP champion took a big hit over the final few races of 2022ꦗ as the Spaniard scored just 1🐟8 points from the last five races.

The Aprilia rider, who was so often the main challenger to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fabio Quartararo, suffered several unfortunat🅷e incidents such as a technical fault on the formation lap in Motegi that reduced Espargaro to a pit lane start, while an engine issue resulted in him failing to finish the season-finale at Valencia.

This handed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Enea Bastianini the chance to claim third in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:MotoGP Standings, which he did after finishing the race i❀n eighth.

But while the end to the season was very disappointing for both Espargaro and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Maverick Vinales, ꦍthe post-season test wasn’t much better from Espargaro’s viewp💮oint, despite lap times being quick for both riders.

Vinales finished second and Espargaro fifth, however, the latter was less than impressed at a lack of new parts being available, which he hopes is not the case during February’s pre-season test ൩at Sepan🥂g.

"I can’t be꧋ happy. Our rivals had lots of new parts," added Espargaro. "We just had a slightly different swing-arm, but other than that nothing I haven’t already tried. 

Aleix Espargaro, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November
Aleix Espargaro, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November

"We’ll have to wait to get the rest we need. The engineers obviously have some work to do to prepare the 2♔023 prototype for Malaysia, but they have no indication regarding the material. 

"It’s true that there’s a lot 🎉of time between Malaysia and Portugal, almost a month to work, but we’ve lost a good window without new parts."

Aprilia were one of many teams to struggle when it came to matching Dꦰucati for top speed throughout the 2022 season, but with a deficit of 10km/h or more, the Spaniard feels improving t⛄he engine is another area that’s a must for the Noale-based manufacturer.  

Espa🐠rgaro continued: "We lose 10km/h to the Ducati and that’s a lot. It’s one of the main areas we need to improve." 🙈;

Despite fading in the latter stages of the season, Aprilia and Espargaro were one of the standout performers of the season and will be expected to fight for the title ♔with more cons😼istency in 2023.

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