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For Aleix Espargaró there could not have been a better opportunity than this home Grand Prix at Jerez de la Frontera, to get back into the role of rider. Taking to the racetrack, for the first time, the Honda RC213V that he has been testing since this winter, ever since he started this new chapter in his career as a Honda tester and beyond.
"What is life like as a test rider? Very different. I'm a rider and a cyclist and I'm very happy, I'm really enjoying life. I am living what I dreamed of, the best life I could have, spending more time with my family, riding a lot and being part of HRC. Wearing these colors in a Grand Prix makes me a little nervous to be honest, because it's really a dream for me. It's incredible," said the eldest of the Espargaró brothers.
Watching the season-opening race in Thailand from home was certainly a different experience for the Spaniard, who is convinced, however, that he made the right decision by retiring from racing.
"It was very strange because I raced for 20 seasons, but I have to say that I realized I made the right decision. Because I was very relaxed, I enjoyed the races, and then when, in America, I saw what happened on the grid, I told my wife that I was lucky not to be there," recounted Aleix, who was certainly not looking forward to getting back on the grid. "Actually, it was not in my plans to race this season, but Honda wanted me to race to test the parts on a race weekend. I think it's the right thing, but I'm more than okay trying parts, riding bikes, and being part of the test team. That's good enough for me. More wild cards? At the moment I will race in Jerez and maybe there will be another one. You never know it might be three. Nakagami also wants to race and I told Honda that if he wants to, he can do more races than me. It's not about the contract but about doing our best work. If there is anything new I have to try in the race it is welcome, but I don't plan to do many wild cards."
Commenting on the chaos on the grid in Austin, he added, "I actually saw later on video that they didn't know what the regulations were really like. They thought they were very smart on the grid, but they weren't. In any case, I can say that Marc Marquez is at an incredible level now. Everyone says he is faster than ever. But despite that, so is the way he analyzes the races. Watching the race in Qatar, I said it was impossible for him not to win. The way he controls the races, approaches the weekend, and the way he rides and has fun, make him a monster. He is unbeatable right now. He has the best team, the best bike and the best confidence of his career, and he can make these games on the grid. Because when you are that confident you can take risks and play. The other riders were nervous while he was there thinking. Chapeau to Marc."
Looking back toward his pit, Espargaró talked about the reality he found at Honda.
"It's pretty much what I expected," he admitted, "In the first test in Barcelona and then in the test in Jerez, I struggled a little bit because the bike was different every time I got on it. I had a different bike than the factory riders and there were a bunch of other things. Honda is a great brand, with a lot of resources, works a lot and has a lot of staff, but maybe sometimes that is not the best system. What we tried to do during the winter together with Albesiano was to build a puzzle with the best parts we had and it was not easy, because we had a lot of things. I left Malaysia with a base that I really liked and that was not far from the best Aprilia I had ridden a couple of months before. Definitely, we need more. Honda is working hard to improve the bike, but I think the base with which we have started the season is more than acceptable."
Taking the development of the bike forward will be precisely the Catalan's main goal in front of his home Spanish crowd as well.
"I'm here to test. I'm completely focused on my work and even if I wanted to do the result it would be very difficult, because it's been so many months since the last time I put on the soft tire and took risks or that are in the view of a race weekend. As an HRC rider you have to give 100 percent and I will obviously give it my all, but the best reward I can have right now is for Joan and Luca to be competitive. I would love for them to be able to fight for the podium soon, because it would mean that I am doing a great job and improving the bike," he underlined.
Two of the most critical areas highlighted by the factory riders are the lack of top speed and the fact that it is difficult to race the Honda, no matter how good a bike it is to ride.
"One step at a time. I told Mir and Marini in Malaysia that the bike has a good base, but it is not yet at a level where we can fight for podiums and wins. I am very happy to get their comments after practice and races. Especially those of Mir, who is getting back to having fun. This is the first step and the most important thing," he noted, "We know we have to work on the engine. We are working hard and my Honda this weekend will be quite different from theirs in this area. Hopefully we can improve and give them solutions with which to have more speed and be able to overtake on race weekends."
How much has the RC213V changed since your first contact at Barcelona?
"It's a completely different bike, because at Barcelona I rode a bike with a different chassis, different electronics, different weight distribution and a different engine. We have already changed it twice since then. Honda is working hard and we are trying to build the best puzzle possible - nothing has remained the same as the Barcelona bike. We have improved everything. We have gained stability and engine performance with the new engine we used in Malaysia. Although the riders feel that we still need to improve, it is definitely better than last year and we will have some new additions this weekend as well. We're going to try some new aerodynamics, which I haven't used yet but it's very different and should help make the bike corner better in the next races," Aleix explained. "We work a lot and it's great to be part of this project because they are very focused and give you what you need. It is only a matter of time for Honda before they get back to the top again."
The Honda test rider then concluded with a comment about the fact that his great friend Jorge Martin will not be able to share the track with him in this Round.
"It's really sad. I talked to Jorge this morning. He commented on a story I posted on Instagram telling me that he was very sad he couldn't be here with me this weekend, because it would have been great to race together. Him with the number 1 and me with the Honda. I'm very worried about him, because he was on top of the roller coaster just a couple of months ago and now he's in the hospital in Qatar," he said, "It's very sad for him, but he's young and he doesn't have to think about coming back, he just has to think about his body and reset his mind. He is 27 years old, he has a lot of time, a great team and a very competitive bike. He is doubting whether he will be competitive again, but I told him he will fly and he will be very fast. Just watch Ogura in his debut season. It's just a matter of time."
