Aleix Espargaro concluded the pre-season testing in Qatar with an impressive display of race pace during a long run on the final night. Riding his factory Aprilia, the Spanish rider showcased remarkable speed until his crash on lap 8.
Unfortunately, Aleix Espargaro’s strong performance, consistently several tenths of a second faster per lap compared to the reigning world champion and test leader, Francesco Bagnaia, who rides for Ducati, was cut short by the crash.
Commenting on his race simulation, Espargaro said, “In terms of race pace with the medium tyre, it’s been amazing, we fly today. So I’m very happy.” He expressed satisfaction with the bike’s performance but highlighted the need for more power: “The bike is amazing everywhere – we just need to increase the power performance.”
During his long run, Espargaro recorded impressive lap times, including a couple of laps in the ’51s range, showcasing the potential of the Aprilia RS-GP 24. Despite his strong showing, he acknowledged that beating the Ducatis, especially Bagnaia, remains a challenge.
He cautioned, “The RS-GP 24 improved a lot, but even this is not enough to beat the Ducatis. So the man to beat is Pecco for sure. I think it’s the strongest preseason for him since he’s been in MotoGP.”
Meanwhile, Espargaro’s teammate, Maverick Vinales, secured the sixth-fastest time but demonstrated competitive pace during a 17-lap race simulation, closely matching KTM’s Brad Binder. Vinales acknowledged some concerns with the engine brake but expressed confidence in resolving the issue through setup adjustments during the race weekend.
As the Qatar MotoGP Test concluded, all eyes are on the upcoming race, with Bagnaia, Espargaro, and Bagnaia’s fellow Ducati rider Enea Bastianini leading the standings.
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