The 2024 MotoGP season saw Aprilia win for the first time with Maverick Viñales, marking his first victory with the Italian brand. This event marked a turning point for Aleix Espargaró, who was previously the only rider to shine for Aprilia. With the Jerez Grand Prix on the horizon, Espargaró sees an opportunity for Aprilia to challenge Ducati and position itself as a serious contender for the title.
At the Circuit of the Americas, Aleix Espargaró, despite starting in fourteenth position and going off the track, managed to finish seventh, after having had to move up the rankings by overtaking several competitors. He expresses great satisfaction with the progress ofAprilia, particularly in terms of aerodynamics and engine performance: “ the bike works great, Maverick proved it. I am very happy for him and for the whole team at Aprilia…I think we'll have a good year, it's exciting to be part of this project »
The agreement between I will espargaro and Viñales has always been solid. Aleix Espargaró had even played a key role in convincing Aprilia to engage Casa Particular in Viñales when he broke up with Yamaha mid-season 2021.
Aleix Espargaró: “ when the Aprilia is in good shape, it is impressive »
He comments on his teammate’s exceptional performance: “ when the Aprilia is in good shape, it is impressive. Maverick was spectacular, opting for the medium tire at the rear, although with the soft he could have been even faster »
I will espargaro now turns to Jerez, a track which has already been successful for him in the past and where he hopes to be particularly competitive: “ in Qatar, the bike was very fast, and it continued like this in Portimao and Austin. Jerez is a track that suits me better, I won pole there last year and I had excellent pace. No excuses, I have to be competitive there. This is the first real test of the year »
This potential displayed by Aprilia, if confirmed in Jerez, could well indicate that the team is ready to fight for the world championship MotoGP.
