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Aleix Espargaro is very happy to see the development of the RS-GP24 motorbike which makes the Aprilia Racing team even more competitive with Ducati / Photo: Motorsport
Aleix Espargaro is very happy to see the development of the RS-GP24 motorbike which makes the Aprilia Racing team even more competitive with Ducati. He is also very excited about MotoGP 2024.
Espargaro had an extraordinary 2024 MotoGP pre-season test in Malaysia and Qatar last February. At the Sepang Circuit, he ended the third day of testing by occupying fifth place with a difference of 0.409 seconds from the fastest rider, Francesco Bagnaia, from Ducati Lenovo.
Then, the racer from Spain got faster on his RS-GP24 motorbike in the pre-season test in Qatar. He was in third place with a difference of just 0.308 seconds from Pecco – Bagnaia's nickname, who again posted the fastest time.
Even in Qatar, Espargaro was the third fastest rider behind the two champions of the factory Ducati team, namely Pecco and Enea Bastianini, who occupied the top two positions. Therefore, he was very satisfied with the performance development shown by his iron horse.
The 34 year old veteran rider also believes that Aprilia is now getting closer to Ducati even though the Borgo Panigale factory team is still one step ahead of them. He is also determined to be able to secure a start at the front row so that it will be easier for him to achieve good results in the 2024 MotoGP race.
“Our distance is not too far, but Ducati is still one step ahead. I think we are not far behind in terms of speed, we had a good pre-season,” said Espargaro as quoted by Motosan, Sunday (3/3/2024).
“In Qatar we were relatively close, but we know how important time is to do a good race, if you don't start from the front it will be very difficult and in the time attack with the soft tire we didn't have the power to fight with the Ducati,” he added.
Espargaro is very excited to start MotoGP 2024. He really doesn't expect that his motorbike can make him appear competitive in pre-season to compete with the Ducati champions.
“I faced it very happy and excited. I was very excited and enthusiastic before starting, but I didn't expect it to be as competitive as when I was in Malaysia and in Qatar,” explained the former Suzuki rider.
“If I was passionate, now I have even more. Now I will try to rest and recharge my batteries with a great desire to run because in the end the pre-season went well, I like to try different things and develop them, but what I like is running.” he concluded.
(fly)