It is during the next tests which will take place at the end of January in Malaysia that Aleix will discover the new Aprilia which he will have for the 2018 season, based on recent tests carried out on the Spanish circuits of Valencia and Jerez.
During these it is Eugene Laverty, the brand's official driver in the Superbike World Championship at Shaun Muir Racing, who began developing the RS-GP as soon as he came down from the RSV4. His teammate was Scott Redding who replaces his compatriot Sam Lowes, back in Moto2.
Espargaró continues to recover from his left hand injury (fracture to the fourth metacarpus and his little finger) which he suffered after an accident during the Australian Grand Prix race at Phillip Island. This incident was all the more regrettable as he had very honorably qualified in eighth position, and was sixth when he fell on the eighth lap, fighting with Cal Crutchlow.
After undergoing surgery with the insertion of a metal plate and screws, Aleix returned to the track for the final Grand Prix of the season in Valencia and for subsequent testing at the Spanish circuit.
After the stress of the long weekend at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, as a precaution, Espargaró skipped the three days of testing in Jerez that closed the 2017 season for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.
Aleix's training program includes improvement in the injured hand during the month of December, with the aim of achieving good fitness for the first tests of 2018 at Sepang, scheduled for January 28-30.
At this time he will be on the new Aprilia RS-GP, the evolution of a project which should allow Aprilia to improve on its sixth and final place in the Manufacturers' World Championship, despite two sixth places for Aleix in Qatar and in Aragon, two sevenths in Germany and Japan, and an eighth in Brno.
During the post-GP tests in Valencia, Aleix, although injured, achieved the 9th fastest time out of 22 drivers present, 0.7 behind Marc Marquez.
According to Alex Espargaro, who are " My injured hand is healing well. The weekend in Valencia was demanding and we also had two pretty big days of testing straight after the race.
“At the moment I only train on the road with my bike, but the idea is to start some off-road riding at the end of the year. At that time we will be able to test the actual conditions of my hand.
“I want to be in the best possible physical condition after the break. I can't wait to get back on the RS-GP for the Sepang test. »
Photos © Aleix Espargaro personal and Aprilia
