Aleix Espargaró is currently 35 years old and is the oldest and most experienced in the MotoGP paddock. He is fulfilling the last season of his contract with Aprilia and the future is uncertain… but it is almost decided.
Despite his age, the Spaniard has been going through his best moment. He grew with the Noale manufacturer, in 2022 and 2023 he achieved his first victories in the premier class, and is a solid candidate to fight for the top positions.
Aprilia should always be Espargaró’s first choice if he decides to stay active. But he also admitted, in April, that it will be his last season if he is not fighting for the top five and he sees with good eyes following the steps of his brother Pol and becoming a test rider, considering it as ‘a good opportunity’. Besides his age, the fact of having a family with two children may also weigh on Aleix when deciding.
It is not clear if Aprilia is interested in his continuity as a full-time rider when there may be interesting riders available looking for an official team. Right away, Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martín or Marc Márquez – only one can stay in the factory Ducati. And with Maverick Viñales at his best moment, fighting at the top, and much younger, if someone has to be “sacrificed”…
International press points to the Italian GP (May 31 to June 2) as the stage for a meeting between Espargaró and Aprilia to discuss the future. The same time frame during which the rider said he wants to wait to evaluate his performance.
