Aleix Espargaró was not the main figure of Aprilia during the weekend but, in the end, he ended up being the highest placed rider aboard the RS-GP due to Maverick Viñales’ crash in the final moments of the race. The feelings were not the best, although he is convinced that he could have had a better result.
When analyzing the Portuguese GP in general terms, the 34-year-old rider said: ‘I was not competitive throughout the weekend. I also don’t think it was a disaster, but I wasn’t fast, I never felt comfortable with the rear tire. I didn’t get a good start and, in turn seven, I still don’t know who hit me from behind with a lot of force, I ended up in 20th. The truth is that the pace was not a disaster either’.
Although he finished eighth, A. Espargaró believes he could have done better: ‘I was in the 39s for many laps, gained many positions. I reached the group of [Marco] Bezzechi and Fabio [Quartararo] and in the end I was eighth, I got some good points. I think our true level was to be with the KTMs in fifth or sixth, the official KTMs, but I wasn’t fast all weekend.’
Grip was a clear issue that limited him, with #41 even making a comparison with his teammate: ‘I had no grip on the rear tire and couldn’t do my strong point, which are the corners. I think it’s the first time since I’ve been with Aprilia that I couldn’t take a fast corner, which is my strong point compared to Maverick. I didn’t like this rear fairing at all and I didn’t feel good all weekend.’
