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MotoGP, Espargarò: I crashed as I was starting to be competitive

Lowes sees the glass half full: "The DNF? I messed up the gear selection, but the Aprilia is developing"

MotoGP: Espargarò: I crashed as I was starting to be competitive

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Aleix Espargarò hoped to repeat his Qatar performance at Rio Hondo, focusing particularly on the Aprilia's performance during the second half of the race. Unfortunately a crash sent his ambitions up in smoke, forcing him to wave the white flag.

The Spaniard took out unlucky Dovizioso in his crash. Neither of them were hurt, and the Ducati man isn't pointing the finger at the Aprilia rider either. #41 is nevertheless clearly disappointed: "During the first laps I was a bit slower than the others but then things started to come together – commented Aleix - just as I was starting to increase my rhythm and move closer to the group, I saw Dovi off line and I moved in. I was forced to brake hard and I lost the front”.

He's very apologetic: “I'm sorry, for both the team and for Andrea – he added - a pity, because we could have done well in the second half of the race, now we go to Austin to confirm our progress".

Sam Lowes was also unlucky, exiting the race early: “At the start I lost a little ground but I was making that back up, moving close to the points zone  - explained the Brit - I had a problem with gear selection and had to come back to the garage but overall I had a good weekend”.

Lowes has taken an important step forward despite the race outcome: “In Qatar I hadn't had chance to work on the 2017 bike prior to the race, but found a good base set-up anyway– he states - here we made a few small changes and I was comfortable in the race, our bike is very competitive later in the race so I know I could have made up some positions”.

Translated by Heather Watson
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