English
Italiano
Espargarò started the Barcelona Sprint with an Aprilia MotoGP bike and ended it with a Honda 125. It was his end-of-career gift and a big surprise for him. He got a chance to take a lap of honor on the first bike he had raced with in the World Championship, while Matteo Baiocco (disguised as Aleix) brought the RS-GP back into the pit.
"I didn't know anything about it. It was my wife's idea," the Spanish rider said, moved. "When I saw the bike, I went crazy. Getting on that 125 was like déjà vu. It was great. I was also a bit worried because it's been so many years since I was fifteen, and I didn't understand how I managed to stay on that bike," he said, laughing. "I couldn't have imagined ending my career riding my first bike and my current one. I also thank Aprilia for allowing me to do that. They've been giving me surprises in the pit all weekend."
You came close to a podium finish in the Sprint.
"I'm very happy with how this weekend went. In the flying lap, I felt very at ease, but I made a small mistake, got distracted, and lost the pole position. In the Sprint, on the other hand, I had a problem with the anti-wheelie system and lost a lot of positions at the start. I still managed to recover, kept a good pace, and, I think, without that hiccup at the start, I could've been fighting for the win. Races are like that and, tomorrow, I'll have the last, or one more, chance to try."
What are you expecting?
"I think the Ducatis will have a faster pace and will also be able to manage the tires better, but I didn't think I'd be so fast today in the last laps. So, I have a chance for tomorrow."
You followed Martin. How did he seem to you?
"I saw that he wasn't riding that smoothly. He was going cautiously, which is what he had to do. I would've liked to have been closer to be his squire."
What advice do you feel like giving him?
"He's very close to the title, and he's handling the situation well. I think he had a perfect race today, and he'll have to repeat that tomorrow. The important thing is that he needs to stay focused and not change his routine. This is a track where Pecco is superior, but Jorge is doing well."
Would the biggest mistake be to think he has the title in his grasp already?
"He doesn't think it's already done. I've talked to him these days, and I don't think he has to keep thinking he's calm. He has to be nervous, face the situation, learn from what's going on. You can't run away from the pressure."
