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MotoGP, Aleix Espargaró: "It was a more difficult Friday than it looks."

"With these MotoGP bikes, it's hard to know what the limit is and not to crash in these temperature conditions. I didn't see anyone particularly fast and I think I can aim to win the Sprint. The crashes? Better not to look for culprits."

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaró:

There could perhaps be no better start for Aleix Espargaró in this his last weekend of racing as a MotoGP rider. Indeed, on his home track of Montmeló, the Aprilia rider ended Friday by occupying third place in FP2 only a tenth away from the benchmark set by Francesco Bagnaia.

"It was a more difficult day than it sounds, because the conditions on the track were really complex: it's not easy with these MotoGPs to do the time attack on Friday with 17° C on the track. I struggled a little bit with grip, as has been the case from mid-season on, but overall I'm glad I improved a lot. I didn't want to crash on the first day as has happened to me in the last four rounds, so I was a little careful at the beginning and overall I'm happy," said Aleix summing up his day.

A Friday complicated by the cold weather. "It was very difficult to get used to these conditions and understand them, especially because I always use two tires for the time attack, others use three, and the problem is that you can go faster every time but it's really complicated to understand what's the limit, because it's like the bike doesn't push on the ground and with these MotoGPs it's really easy to crash with 17° C," noted the Spanish rider, who then commented on the results offered by the day's first session.

"We always blame Michelin when there is something we don't like, but this time we have to give them kudos because the allocation is great and gives us many options. They did an incredible job, protecting the left shoulder of the tire a lot. Maybe even a little too much in my opinion but I don't blame them because it's better this way than falling off. They did a really good job ," he pointed out, "Obviously, in the first session you have to figure out what is the best allocation and test the tires and it's not really that easy to do: this circuit, which I love, is quite slippery and very cold. So, it was a difficult Friday for the riders and the teams."

Staying on the topic of tires, Espargaró then made a comment on the fact that, at the end of the season, Aprilia, Honda, KTM and Yamaha still can't seem to find a way to adapt to the French company's rear tire.

"I really don't understand, it's the same question I ask my engineers and they don't have an answer," he admitted, "We've analyzed so many parameters and we've worked very hard to try to understand different things, and on some circuits we've even collected data with Raul from the 2023 bike with the new tires, but there's something we can't get right: we don't have traction or grip. We are struggling a lot. Only Ducati likes it."

After confirming for the umpteenth time his and the RS-GP's feeling with the Barcelona track, where they already triumphed in May in the Sprint, Aleix can only show confidence ahead of the races.

"Am I aiming to win? What do you guys say? It's my last race. If we forget about Sunday and just talk about Saturday with soft tires, I think I can do it. I had a good time today, tried different tires on the front and rear, and I was basically okay. I didn't see anyone really fast or really strong, so I think we will have our chance. As for Sunday, I still haven't figured out how fast we can be over the long distance, but tomorrow I think I will have fun," pointed out the Noale factory captain, according to whom the Aprilia's good performance is not only related to the low temperatures encountered today in Spain.

"We have to remember that we have always done well here in Barcelona, but Aprilia is also working hard and has brought a new bike here and a new engine, which is the fastest I have ever used. I have a few more laps to do on Friday and I will fly down the straight," he said.

Aleix then concluded by commenting on the incidents seen today between Vinales and Bagnaia and between the two Tech3 riders.

"I don't want to go into every single incident, but you have to remember that they are all highly charged because it's the last race, they are all tired and they are also thinking a little bit about Tuesday's test and the new bikes - he noted - Pecco is definitely very nervous, having to think about the championship. It is difficult to manage this situation and the best thing to do is not to blame anyone and try to finish having as much fun as possible."

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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