After talking about the issue of the (slower) development of Aprilia, especially in a year when they have a satellite team, Aleix Espargaró absolved RNF Racing and took on the main responsibility for the development of the RS-GP, without forgetting that he himself asked Aprilia to provide the most updated version of the bike to the RNF duo.
Aprilia has a satellite team for the first time in MotoGP, but Aleix Espargaró has questioned the (limited) contribution of this team to the Aprilia project. Now, in Sepang, after discussing some issues with Aprilia keeping up with the development pace of other manufacturers, he recalled what he “asked” from Aprilia when the partnership was confirmed:
– I don’t want… I said from the beginning, because they asked me, that it would be better to give two complete factory bikes like mine to Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández, but it’s not that easy. It’s the first year for us [with a satellite team], for Aprilia, it’s not easy.
The Spaniard then calmed things down and clarified that it is his job to develop the bike, and that Razlan Razali’s team should not be questioned: ‘Anyway, I don’t want to blame RNF: it’s my fault for not going fast, it’s my job to develop the bike and Aprilia’s job to give me a strong bike, and you can never, ever, put pressure on the satellite team.’
