Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia): “The driver market is crazy” / MotoGP

Aleix Espargaró puts pressure on Aprilia with his third straight podium finish. The current runner-up in the MotoGP World Championship talks about his situation and that of his brother Pol Espargaró at Repsol Honda.

Alongside Enea Bastianini, Aleix Espargaró is the surprise of the first third of the 2022 MotoGP season. Aleix not only gave Aprilia its first MotoGP victory in Argentina in Argentina, but was also on the podium in all three European races. In the World Championship table, he is only four points behind defending champion Fabio Quartararo.

Espargaró still does not have a new contract – and on the sidelines of the French GP he hinted that that he will not wait forever for Aprilia. But does the Termas winner make it very difficult for his employer to say no with his achievements? “I don’t know what’s happening there. I don’t know what to say either,” he dismissed, adding quickly: “But I don’t mind, I’m very happy and enjoying the moment.”

But the 32-year-old Spaniard admitted: “It would help to know about my future as soon as possible. Because it would give me a little more peace. But I can’t do more – yes okay, I could win every race. But that is very difficult and I finish on the podium in every race. That’s all I can do.”

‘I spoke earlier with Jack [Miller] talked,” continued Aleix Espargaró. Despite second place in Le Mans, Miller fears for his place in the Ducati factory team. “The driver market is crazy, the World Cup is crazy, the level of each driver is unbelievable,” emphasized Espargaró. “It looks like every driver is faster. That’s true, but I read an interesting interview with Dall’Igna last week in which he said: Every rider is fast in this World Championship, but knowing the bike at the limit and knowing every single detail of it makes all the difference. For the drivers, but also for the teams, you don’t have to think once or twice, but three or four times before replacing a driver.”

«For example, now everyone is saying that Pol could lose his place», the Aprilia spearhead referred to his brother Pol Espargaró, who is under pressure in his second year as a Repsol Honda works driver. “Pol is super strong and I’m not saying that because he’s my brother. In his first year in the World Championship he was incredible on the 125 machine, he was world champion in Moto2, he was on the podium with KTM – Pol is very fast. But everyone is fast here in the MotoGP World Championship.”

MotoGP result, Le Mans (May 15):

1. Bastianini, Ducati, 27 Rdn in 41: 34.613 min
2. Miller, Ducati, + 2,718 sec
3. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 4,182
4. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 4,288
5. Zarco, Ducati, + 11,139
6. Marc Marquez, Honda, + 15,155
7. Nakagami, Honda, +16,680
8. Brad Binder, KTM, + 18,459
9. Marini, Ducati, + 20,541
10. Viñales, Aprilia, + 21.486
11. Pol Espargaró, Honda, + 22,707
12. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 23,408
13. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 26.432
14. Alex Marquez, Honda, +28,710
15. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +29,433
16. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +38,149
17. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 59,748
– Oliveira, KTM, 3 laps back
– Bagnaia, Ducati, 7 laps down
– Martin, Ducati, 11 laps behind
– Mir, Suzuki, 14 laps back
– Fernández, KTM, 21 laps back
– Rins, Suzuki, 22 laps down
– Gardner, KTM, 24 laps down

Championship status after 7 of 21 Grand Prix:

1. Quarterly 102 Points. 2. Aleix Spargaro 98. 3. Bastianini 94. 4. Rins 69. 5. Miller 62. 6. Zarco 62. 7. Bagnaia 56. 8. Brad Binder 56. 9. Mir 56. 10. Marc Marquez 54. Oliveira 43. Pol Spargaro 40. 13. Viñales 33. 14. Nakagami 30. 15. Martin 28. 16. Marini 21. 17. Morbidelli 19. 18. Bezzecchi 19. 19. Alex Marquez 18. 20. Dovizioso 21. Darryn Binder 6. 22. Di Giannantonio 3. 23. Gardner 3 .

Constructors’ Championship:

1. Ducati 156 Punkte. 2. Yamaha 102. 3. Aprilia 99. 4. KTM 84. 5. Suzuki 80. 6. Honda 67.

Team World Cup:

1. Aprilia Racing 131 Punkte. 2. Suzuki Ecstar 125. 3. Monster Energy Yamaha 121. 4. Ducati Lenovo 118. 5. Red Bull KTM Factory 99. 6. Gresini Racing MotoGP 97. 7. Repsol Honda 94. 8. Pramac Racing 90. 9. LCR Honda 48. 10. Mooney VR46 Racing 40. 11. WithU Yamaha RNF 14. 12. Tech3 KTM Factory 3.

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