Even the Abu Dhabi Auto Racing League
Aleix Espargaro does not expect to remain part of the Aprilia MotoGP team once he retires from full-time competition at the end of the year.
The 34-year-old has been part of the Aprilia MotoGP group since 2017 and has identified himself with the project, not only ending its long drought of wins in the premier class and giving it an outside bid for the title in 2022 but also helping things along. Including the recruitment of riders – after he played a role in securing the signature of current teammate Maverick Vinales.
But his media appearances and speech to the Aprilia team before the news broke on Thursday gave the strong impression of a disruptive farewell – and perhaps with good reason.
Espargaro is registered as being interested in a test rider role and in leading the manufacturer's development work for MotoGP's 2027 switch to 850cc machines.
But while he has insisted in the past that if he had continued to ride full-time it would have been with Aprilia, when it comes to the role of test rider, he suggested he should have greater flexibility as to who his employer would be.
And on Friday, after completing practice faster and with the new Barcelona MotoGP lap record set, Espargaro said: “I know I will miss a lot from everyone at Aprilia, and I will miss the feeling of riding the RS-GP. So the only goal is what I have to do. To enjoy and smile every lap until the last lap in Valencia.”
This chimed with his statements to Spanish television that he was expecting to leave the team entirely – and when asked about this by The Race, he confirmed this: “I don't want to talk about the future, it's been a very beautiful eight years.” I want it to end well.
“But… I don't think I'll stay in Aprilia.”
A blow to Aprilia?
Aprilia already has a test rider on the books in Lorenzo Savadori, which they are happy with despite him being a lesser-known name.
While he has a weaker record in the MotoGP World Championship than his counterparts from other manufacturers, Savadori has been an integral part of Aprilia's impressive development curve.
However, the race team is aware that Aprilia would be very willing to pair it with a rider with a high MotoGP pedigree – according to former KTM model of Dani Pedrosa/Mika Kallio test rider list – and that Espargaro would very much tick the box.
So why, if Aprilia's interest is there, does Espargaro feel that continuing together is unlikely?
It could be so – and it probably is – because with useful evidence of the RS-GP's current developmental acumen compared to pre-Espargaro Aprilias, it stands to reason that rival motorcycle manufacturers would show interest in seizing the Espargaro for their own. Test programs.
In fact, Espargaro suggested to Spanish broadcaster DAZN that he has spoken to all of them – just what he was discussing with KTM specifically, which has Pedrosa and Espargaro's brother Pol on the books, a real mystery – and putting two and two together suggests that Espargaro is inclined to accept the offer. competitor.
It's easy to imagine a niche for him in different places – say, Ducati, where its trusted tester Michele Pirro will turn 38 this year, or even BMW if it sticks to the MotoGP championship – but the most logical outcome is a place with a Japanese brand.
Given that both are in 'D-ranked' franchise status at the moment, thus providing more ground for development work, and with both (but Honda in particular) unlikely to rise significantly higher in the short term, Espargaro could be a useful counterpart. By Cal Crutchlow. In the Yamaha camp (which will certainly please Espargaro's close friend Fabio Quartararo) or Stefan Bradl at Honda.
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola spoke to MotoGP.com on Saturday morning, but refused to talk about Espargaro's future, simply stating that there was no reason to “panic”.
“Unfair” dream scenario.
But despite this, Espargaro naturally remains invested in the success of the program he helped create at Aprilia – something he made clear on Friday when speaking about who might replace him.
Aprilia is thought to be eyeing anyone from Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini to miss the Ducati ride in 2025, and Espargaro was quizzed about the prospect of his good friend Martin riding for the factory.
“It's definitely a good team and a good bike. But it's not fair. Jorge deserves the ride of his dreams, which is a factory Ducati,” Espargaro said.
“If he can't get it, it will be unfair to me.
“But yeah, that [Aprilia] It would be a very good choice, and it would be…imagine…seeing Jorge win a title, win races with the #41 bike…pfff. It's like I won. The same feeling.”
It won't be the 41st bike of course, and the main reason that's unlikely is that it very likely won't be the 89th bike either – as Martin is currently the favorite for this year's title and MotoGP. Plate 1, so the Ducati rider may not be able to let it go.
