MotoGP Spain Jerez J2: Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia / Ab) still can't do it

Everything seemed to be going according to the plan established by Aleix Espargaró and his team after his pole position. But during the Sprint, a fall put an end to all his hopes of victory although they had already started from the first turns. Clearly, the veteran is struggling at the start of the 2023 season. We feel him feverish, not able to fully exploit the potential of his RS-GP. A phenomenon which is beginning to be reflected in its position in the general ranking. After his poor performance, the Spaniard speaks out.

« I got a good start, but the KTMs got away. The pace was slow Says Aleix Espargaro, yet started from the best of places. Concerning its flight, the term “good” is relative. Indeed, during the first lights out as well as the second, he quickly found himself trapped, without really being able to benefit from the advantage he had acquired a few hours earlier.

 

Quickly left behind by the KTM duo, Aleix could do nothing about it. “ Overtaking is very difficult and I don't know if using the soft tires would have changed much. It was a choice, I don't know if it would have been better to choose it. But with the medium I felt good. The speed was good, it wasn't a tire problem. » he adds, which supports the analysis of many other pilots. Normally, it is always complicated to free yourself from your counterpart in Jerez, and the aerodynamic load of motorcycles makes the task even more difficult. When following a competitor, the front tire ends up heating up and losing performance.

Concerning his fall, Aleix Espargaró is lucid: “ I released the brake, and I slid. This isn't the first time this has happened to me. " did he declare. Then fifth, its front axle slipped away at turn n°9 named after the legend, Angel Nieto, a particularly delicate place which continues to trap pilots.

Still on pole tomorrow, can he come back stronger? Tell us in the comments!


Here are the Sprint results at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix:

Classification credit: motogp.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport