Aprilia loses 2nd place in the MotoGP rider standings after the Misano race, but Aleix Espargarò limits the damage.
Aleix Espargarò look at the glass half full after the Misano Adriatico race. He is not satisfied with 6th place, he sees Pecco Bagnaia overtake in the drivers’ standings, but he has lost just one point from World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo. He had predicted that the Spielberg and Misano tracks would be difficult for his driving style and the Aprilia RS-GP, yet Maverick Vinales3rd at the finish, proved that nothing is impossible for the Noale prototype.
From Friday’s free practice it was clear that he would struggle a lot against the Ducatis. Starting from the third row, he never managed to undermine the leading group, which also included his box mate Vinales. There was in front of him Fabio Quartararo, also struggling with limits that prevented him from aiming higher. “There was a moment when I thought I could take Fabio, but I wasn’t at Maverick’s level. The truth is that Maverick here at Misano is always very fast, in the changes of direction I couldn’t have his speed“.
Aleix Espargarò aims for the summit
Now they are 33 points away from the top of the championship, but from Aragon onwards there will be more favorable layouts where you can play everything for everyone in the final sprint. “We still have quite a few new engines. There are races outside of Europe where this year we have been more competitive than Yamaha and Ducati. Obviously I would have preferred to recover points, but we have gone through difficult circuits and I am still 33 points“.
It matters little that Pecco Bagnaia passed in front of him: “How much do I care? Zero”. In the sights of Aleix Espargarò there is only first place … 33 points behind the leader … What do you want to do, first or second? Well, there you have it: 33 points“. We must not despair, at the MotorLand the music should change in his favor and be able to get closer to the leadership after the two sixth places in Austria and San Marino: “Before the Assen race I was 32 points behind and now I’m 33. It’s not that bad. You have to see it positively“.
Up until last year a sixth place was a cause for celebration now Aprilia it has other horizons ahead of it. In the last six races the great world dream continues: “In the past we would have celebrated in Aprilia after finishing sixth. It wasn’t a disaster. I said earlier in the season that Austin, Spielberg and Misano would be complicated circuits. We are in the championship final and they are down by just 33 points – concluded the pilot of Granollers -. It means we have done something good this year. We have to believe it“.
