Aleix Espargaró will start the MotoGP season motivated to achieve a good result at the Qatar GP. The Spanish rider finished the tests in Lusail in the top 3 and hopes to continue fighting for podiums and victories throughout the season.
In the debrief, the Aprilia Racing rider talked about what he expects from the first GP of the season:
– ‘Last year Aprilia finished on the podium here, which are good indicators for this year’s race. Everyone tested here, so it will all be decided in the details, in the small details. The 2024 bike is more competitive everywhere. I already knew that here in Qatar we would be very competitive.’
Aleix also spoke about the most important technical aspect in MotoGP at the moment and the importance of having a factory bike.
– ‘The most important technical aspect at the moment, they are all… Since we are all so close, we need a perfect bike in all aspects. For the first time in my career, I arrive at the first race of the year relaxed, I don’t know why, but I am much more relaxed than in other years. It may be because I have already achieved many things in my career and the phase I am going through, but I am much more relaxed’.
The Spanish rider also talked about the tires and the change in tire pressure:
– ‘The tires are exactly the same. I don’t know if I’ve been very lucky with tires in recent seasons, because each rider per season ends up with at least three bad tires during the year and I only had it once. I think riders need to blame Michelin less, sometimes riders may feel bad with a tire, but it’s not always the tire’s fault. I am very happy with the change in tire pressure, because last year it was a nightmare to always be counting the pressure in detail to avoid a penalty.’
Aleix Espargaró is nearing the end of his career and talked about his prospects for the future.
– ‘Not everything depends on me to continue. Romano (Albesiano) has said several times that he would like me to never retire, but at this point he is no longer responsible for contracts, it is Massimo (Rivola), so I don’t know. If I continue to fight for podiums and victories and Aprilia wants me to stay, I will stay.’
