As an IRTA test, not a Grand Prix, the conditions for shooting video during the three-day MotoGP test at Sepang were much less limited and Alex Espargaro took the opportunity to create his first Vlog.
The Aprilia Racing rider presented it like this: " Hello everybody, how are you ? Aleix on camera. Here we are in Malaysia for the first day to start the 2023 World Championship tomorrow, which will be our first day of the pre-season. Joan, who is behind the camera, and I are already here acclimatizing to the heat for three days. Obviously there is a lot of difference with Andorra. We left it while it was snowing and it was between -5° and -8°, and here we are above 30° with high humidity, so I thought, during these days to watching Youtube in the afternoon at the hotel or training, that we could relaunch my Youtube channel by making a few videos, a few blogs. We'll see how that goes. I think I'm very lucky to have this life: it's good, we travel a lot around the world and we do a lot of interesting things very often. Maybe on the other side you don't notice it and can only see the activities on the track. Of course, this is my real job but I think everything around me is interesting and you will be able to appreciate it. So I'm going to try. I'm not a YouTuber but I'll give it a try to see if I learn quickly. We're going to make some videos and I hope you enjoy it. Nothing more, and the first 2023 test in Malaysia, here we come! »
Then, over the 12 minutes of the video, Alex Espargaro tried his best to make us experience these tests in Malaysia from the inside, telling us along the way how a MotoGP accelerates…
Here is our translation of the Aprilia rider's words.
“Well, the first day, I had already forgotten to make the press videos and everything I have to do every year. So let's go ! »
“It's over for the press and now, as you know, I'm making my debut this year with Kabuto. So let's go see my Japanese friends to discover the helmets and receive explanations. This will be the first time that I will use them on track with MotoGP, and for Ixon, with whom I have been with for a long time, they have prepared some innovations. So let's go! »
“It’s 21 p.m. and I’m already in bed. Nervous, I admit I'm a little nervous. I showed you a little bit about what a day of preparation looks like before the first test. Everything is ready. I have been coming here for many years but I still have butterflies in my stomach. I'm very excited to try the new bike and see what the engineers have developed, and how it works. We'll see if it's enough to fight to achieve my goals and dreams. Nothing more, so let's go to sleep because tomorrow begins the first of three days, and it will be physically tough. Hi ! »
“Hello, it’s day 1 of the test. Here we have my 2023 motorcycle, plus two other motorcycles which will now be started. The mechanics warm them up so they are ready to go. What a beautiful day ! »
“We're halfway through the first day and I'm going to show you one of the corners of the garage: here we have the coffee, obviously Italian. One of the best things we have is coffee, and with the many hours of work a lot of coffee ends up being drunk. We already did 40 laps on the first day. This is my corner and the start is not bad, although we need something more if we want to fight with the best. But hey, we continue…”
“The first day is over. Paolo, what was it like?
- Alright !
– Let’s go see the boss so he can tell us what he thinks. Let's see. Romano (Albesiano) is here: so how was today? First day of 2023…
- Alright !
- Yes ?
– Let's not say anything because it's only the first day, but I'm satisfied.
– If the boss is happy, I’m happy. I'm going to go change and the first day is over, but I'm going to show you something interesting. I'll show you the video: how long do you think it took me to go from 0 to 100?
Okay, you've seen the start, so let's ask world lord electronics how it was. He does not lie ! Penny how much did we make?
– 2.3!
– 2.3 from 0 to 100! What do you think of this time: fast or slow? Did you win or did you lose? The truth is that this was one of my best starts, so it's not bad the way these bikes accelerate! That's all for today. I hope you liked everything about this inside view. Now I lower the body temperature a little with the iCool because it's hot here. Nothing else until the technical meeting which will last until 20 p.m., then dinner and the night at the hotel because we start again tomorrow at nine o'clock for the second day. I hope you enjoyed. Ciao! Bye ! »
“Hello world, let’s go for day two. Here mate, this is my breakfast: look, an omelette and some cereal with yogurt and coffee with milk, of course.
Breakfast is finished and we got dressed to go to the circuit. Let's go! Joan is punctual like clockwork! »
“Today doesn't look great because it rained all night. Here in Malaysia this happens sometimes. We'll see if it dries a little.
There are many palm trees here. We'll see if it dries up a bit and if we can get out. »
“Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing: I had an idea and this is my first video to become a YouTuber by making videos on YouTube… what do you think?
– You are very dangerous.
– He doesn’t really like it (laughs)… Here, here is Pépé Antonio (Jimenez), my Crew Chief and the second grandfather of my children. Coffee, and look: it’s all wet. I didn't think it would be this wet. »
“This is the Health Center, the place where the physios and doctors give massages and treat each of us when we are unwell. My finger a little swollen. »
“Here we are talking because it is still raining. All the boys are here but we still can't fly. Joan takes care of the Kabuto: how is the visor?
- Alright !
– Let’s see if we can start soon. »
"There are days when you're better off staying in bed, and today was one of those days." Day two is over and it was a bit shit. It rained most of the day, and I fell quite hard: we watch the fall »
“And in the afternoon it started to rain again, so I was able to do few laps. But hey, that's part of the testing. Nothing else, the day is already over: the meetings are over, the physio is done, and we are going to dinner at the Aprilia hospitality: hello everyone! We'll have a nice dinner and I'll show you the kitchen. Hello guys! In Europe, we have a hospitality structure but there is none here. So let's eat and we'll talk afterwards.
It’s 20:30 p.m. and we’ve already had dinner. I did the technical meeting and the health center. Now I'm in the box and of course there are the guys, because they have to continue working on the dismantled bikes. We don't have to see them but they continue to work for tomorrow, the last day, then they will have to pack everything up.
This is Baiox, who is our on-track analyst. Oh, by the way, the fall was filmed by this bastard who was just at the right turn, and whose scream you could hear. It was Baiox, he just filmed me falling, then he brought me back to the box. His job is to be on the sidelines and analyze a little what the others are doing. He sometimes gives information, he sends us the track conditions, if it's raining or not. We compare the videos, we analyze everything, and he was just there at the right time for the fall.
Hi, we are going to hotel and sleep to rest. Tomorrow will be the third day and we will try to do a race simulation and some attacks on the clock to see how it goes. »
“We’re in the car. We are already on the way to the circuit for the third and last day, with everything packed: bikes, suitcases, everything, because today we finish the test at 18 p.m. and at 20:30/21 p.m. we take the plane again for home: first a short flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, then a direct flight to Barcelona.
Let's see how the third day and the return trip goes after being gone for almost a week. »
“Now, a little coffee!” Andrea, our press officer. We go to the press room to speak to the journalists because this afternoon there will be no time to do so, since it will be very tight with our plane. So let's do it now at noon. Look at the press room. This is where all the journalists work, where the photographers upload their photos, and where there is the TV area that I'm going to show you, where Dorna, DAZN and all the TVs work. This is the place we always come to first when the testing and racing is over.
Look, it’s the beautiful Izaskun! Hello, hello, now I am a YouTuber. Izaskun, did you know that?
– Are you going to answer my questions?
- Yes !
– Today you look better.
-Isn't that right (laughs)? »
“Very important: this is not coffee beans like I take at home. Here are my leathers that need to be packed, just like the bike I take everywhere and the little coffee machine. So before we start, it's coffee time. »
“The test is over. The three days went well. The truth is that we made progress on this third day. We have one more test before starting the championship but the Aprilia 2023 seems to be working well. I have to change quickly because these two technical meetings and we are leaving for the airport.
Well, let's go! Here you have the Sepang circuit. We head to the airport and say goodbye to this super Malaysian rain. »
"Well, we're already on the plane to go home." People will fall asleep on the Singapore to Barcelona flight. I hope you liked this video. I made it with all the love in the world. I'm sure many things can be improved but I made it with all my love so you can see our world from the inside. I think if it works, I'll make more videos. I welcome criticism here in the comments below, as long as it's constructive. All the reviews you want. Now I'm doing a little briefing for my friend David Acedo who will edit this video. I hope you like this. I'm leaving you with mine, with my family, to recharge the batteries and arrive full gas at the first race in Portimao. Ciao!
Oh, I forgot, so you can see I already like YouTube. I'm going to show you something exclusive before Instagram and anyone else: the final design of my helmet for the 2023 season. Kabuto made a replica, so you can see what it looks like. Bye ! »
