This Sunday, May 29, 2022, Alex Espargaro answered questions from journalists from the Mugello circuit at the end of the Italian Grand Prix.
Race after race, the Catalan rider and his Aprilia RS-GP confirm that they are the surprise guests for the world title this year.
As usual, we report here the words of Alex Espargaro without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Aleix, the good news continues for you with the announcement of your renewal then a new podium which allows you to remain just behind Fabio Quartararo in the championship...
Alex Espargaro : " Yes, I am happy ! Satisfied. Today I dreamed of victory but I couldn't because I lost a lot of time behind the boys from VR 46. They did a very good job because they don't have a lot of experience and they made no mistakes, they were quick. I expected more mistakes but they didn't make any, so it was difficult for me to overtake them and I lost 15 laps with them. So congratulations to them, and when I was able to overtake them, it was too late. But anyway, I'm very happy and it's been another very good weekend for everyone at Aprilia. During the race, I gave everything I had. I knew that starting seventh because of my bad qualifying yesterday would be very difficult, but overall I'm satisfied: I made four podiums in a row, I put on a good show and I hope that everyone in Noale and at Piaggio today enjoyed the show, and I hope we can fight for victory in Barcelona. »
You had a new engine this weekend: did you feel an improvement?
“Yes, I have to say that today the engine is no longer an excuse: the bike was fast and the bike was good. I didn't lose any ground on the Ducatis on the straight, but I wasn't brilliant when overtaking. For example, during the first part of the race, I was in front of Fabio but he was able to overtake me and overtake the Ducati riders more easily, while I stayed behind them for a long time. So it wasn't the engine problem, because the engine was fast today, so I hope we can take advantage of that in Barcelona because it's a circuit that I really like, my home Grand Prix, and I arrive there in great shape. So hopefully we can continue this positive journey there. »
Francesco Bagnaia won his home Grand Prix and you have a chance to do the same next Sunday in Barcelona: you must be very excited, especially arriving second in the championship...
“Yes, it will be a very special weekend. I think it will be my most special home Grand Prix of my career: I'm 100% sure of it! You know, I will give my best! Today I did the same thing and gave everything, but Pecco was perfect, no mistakes, very fast. So I will try again in Barcelona. I know how difficult it is to win in this category, so hopefully I can do a good job on Friday. If I want to fight for victory, I know I have to fight for pole position! Otherwise, it will be very difficult on Sunday. I will give my best and I think we will enjoy good sunny weather in Barcelona, so hopefully I can produce a good show at my home Grand Prix. »
Can you explain why it is possible to overtake here when in the last two races it seemed very difficult?
“Yes, I agree (with Fabio Quartararo), Mugello helps. Mugello is a very fast circuit where you can release the front brake in order to produce more passing speed. When it's a stop and go circuit, it's more difficult to overtake. At the same time, as Pecco said, there was some really good work done by the rookies today, but we had a certain advantage in terms of pace. They started in front because they were very brave yesterday, but we were a little faster, so when you have something in your pocket, it's easier to overtake. But if all three of us had started at the front, it would have been more difficult to put on a show because we had a very similar pace. I think that during the last seven or eight laps, I took 1/10 from Fabio, then I lost 1/10, Fabio took 1/10 from Pecco then lost 1/10 again. So when you're like that, very, very close, it's difficult to overtake. »
Now that we have returned to Europe and you have found your feet, do you think that all three of you (Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Aleix Espargaró) can fight for the title this year?
“Yes, I completely agree (with Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia). We've raced on very different circuits and it's funny because we have three completely different bikes but we're always ahead: in testing, in race pace, during races, we're fighting. So yes, I think all three of us are contenders it will be very long with 20 races: sometimes the summer break can be bad for you, so we have to progress race by race. But during the first part of the season, we proved that we were the three most consistent drivers. »
Three weeks ago, no one considered you a title contender. Now things have changed, but what part of it is your work and that of Aprilia?
“I don't think the Aprilia could perform at this level without me, but I also have a lot of doubts that I could perform like that with another bike. It's not about you, it's about the team. It looks like an individual sport but it is not. We've seen in a lot of factories this year that it's one driver or another, so it's a combination of things.
We have a very good feeling in the garage and we are doing an excellent job. Once again, it's still early in the championship but yes, my goal is to fight for the title, and yes, I believe I can fight for this title until the end. So I appreciate that the other drivers are changing their mentality but it won't change mine: I have my own road and I will try to follow it until Valencia. »
Result of the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello:
Credit ranking: MotoGP.com
