Aleix Espargaró will be, at 32 years old, the second rider who will be modestly identified as the most experienced on the 2022 MotoGP field. The oldest will be a 35-year-old Dovizioso who will ride on the RNF satellite Yamaha having not yet decided anything for 2023… The Aprilia official was able to work closely with the Italian during his RS-GP evaluation period. And despite the disappointment of having finally seen him leave for other lands, he admits his admiration for the three-time vice-world champion.
It is rare for a current pilot to cite one of his contemporaries and adversaries when asked who his reference is. Yet this is whatAleix Espargaró to the proverbial frankness and spontaneity made by declaring on speedweek : " Dovizioso is a driver for whom I have always had a lot of respect. I always said Dovi was my idol ».
Aleix Espargaró: “ Dovizioso signed elsewhere and I prefer not to say anything about it«
« I know he didn't have as many wins as Marc Marquez or Valentino Rossi, but I admire his way of working and his way of understanding races » specifies the one who convinced Maverick Vinales breaking bans with Yamaha to come and join him on the RS-GP. “ He is always at the limit with his equipment and makes very few mistakes ».
However, even an idol can disappoint: “ It would have been great to have him as a teammate, but he signed elsewhere and I'd rather not say anything about it », recalls the pilot Aprilia. The latter, by the way, would not have been reluctant to continue collaborating with another Andrea, a more extroverted one… “ Between Iannone and Dovizioso, I would choose Dovi, because I have already worked with Iannone and unfortunately he cannot come back at the moment ". We will not know more about this preference than this purely factual position...
