Aleix Espargaró aims for the MotoGP title after the splendid 2022 season. As Ducati's great rival, Marc Marquez seems "offside".
About Luigi Ciamburro de Motoracing
Aleix Espargaró wants to take center stage on the track, after a 2022 MotoGP season that ended in the worst possible way. This could be his last two years in the World Championship and he wants to play it all with the Aprilia RS-GP. He relaunched his YouTube channel and reconfirmed himself as one of the most critical and “union” voices during Safety Commission meetings. In the
2022 has been a fantastic year for Aleix Espargaro and the manufacturer based in Noale, but the driver from Granollers knows that time is running out and wants to aim for his life's dream. The RS-GP23 seen during the Sepang tests is one of the best bikes in the MotoGP range, at least on paper, while we wait to see the response from the track. In 2023, he will try again to conquer the title, in a year which presents a major novelty like the “sprint”. A format that he never completely approved of. “ In MotoGP, there will be 42 starts… it will be very dangerous – he explains in an interview on Manuel Pecino’s YouTube channel. It was better to start with five sprints and see how it went. The championship belongs to Dorna and they decide ».
Negotiations are still underway between teams and drivers on driver bonuses, Ducati already seems on track to succeed, as anticipated Charles Pernat, manager ofEnea Bastianini. The situation elsewhere is less clear: “ the teams were informed very late and had closed budgets, I understand their position - commented Aleix Espargaró -. But we must also take into account the point of view of the pilots, This is something that needs to be corrected.. The risk will be greater and if points are awarded, the pilots will have to be paid ».
Aleix Espargaró: “ Marc Marquez looks physically strong again. We see him riding with a low center of gravity«
The competition will also be tight during the next MotoGP season, with very tight gaps. Aprilia has nothing to envy of the favorite Ducati, nor to the Japanese giant Honda who navigates uncertain waters. “ You have to be careful with the Ducati, you have to wait for Portimao ". Only then will we begin to have a rough, but fairly comprehensive, picture of the new balance of the board. The RS-GP23 is up to the task, the Noale technicians have made small improvements in all areas. “ After last year I want to be careful because the Ducatis scared me ". The objective does not change: after the brilliant 2022 season, winning the World Championship must be the ambition to aim for from the first race. “ I'm confident and relaxed, I feel the pressure. I have the weapons, the knowledge, I am more mature as a pilot ».
The RC-V of Marc Marquez does not seem to cause any particular concern, barring development miracles during the two-day IRTA test in Portimao. “ If Honda doesn't move, it will be very difficult to fight for him. Italian brands are of a high level and what is happening with the Japanese is very strange. Marc looks physically strong again. We see him riding with a low center of gravity ", concluded Aleix Espargaro. " But without a good bike, it won't be easy ».
