This weekend Aleix Espargaró wrote his name, almost without realizing it, in the motorcycling history book. The rider from Granollers signed his 200th Grand Prix in style, giving Aprilia its first MotoGP victory.
“It’s a dream come true, I feel very happy,” he confessed after finishing the Argentine Grand Prix.
Aprilia’s regular rider became the eighth rider to exceed 200 grands prix, and after the victory in Argentina, it all points to Aleix having an interesting future ahead of him in 2022.
“I think this championship is very, very hard because everything is very close. The level of all the factories is very high”, Aleix expressed after signing the expected victory.
“I am very happy, not only for myself, but for everyone at Aprilia and for my family, because I have finally achieved victory, I deserve it.”
Aleix Espargaró managed to climb to the top of the podium for a team that has been trusting in his talent and potential since 2017, and that has welcomed the arrival of this result with open arms after a lot of work.
Aleix Espargaró considered retiring from MotoGP: “I wasn’t happy”
However, it is not always possible to enjoy what is harvested. After his first victory, Aleix Espargaró confessed that withdrawal was an option that was put on the table on several occasions.
“It has been very difficult. There was a turning point a couple of years ago,” said the Spanish driver.
“But if there is one thing that is certain, it is that I have never thrown in the towel, I have always worked and I have always believed. When I was on the circuit, no matter how bad the results were, I think I have shown Aprilia that they have never had another rider worker than me, and in the end I am very happy that we have achieved it”.
However, a healthy and safe family environment led the rider to continue fighting for his dreams in MotoGP.
“Everything I get is thanks to my wife, the stability she gives me is brutal. I told her ‘Laura, I’m not happy, I do 18th every race and I’m hurting myself’, let’s do something else’. And I talked about it with Aprilia, [Massimo] Rivola arrived and changed Noale quite a bit,” added Aleix.
And after some ups and downs and difficult moments, the rider from Granollers has the right to boast that he is the provisional leader of the MotoGP world championship.
“I am very very happy, because since the preseason I had the feeling of having the best machine, the best bike I have ever had. I thought we could be in the top 10 or top 5, and I have been very close to the fastest in the pre-season test. Then, in Qatar and Indonesia, I also saw my potential.”
“For Aprilia it is a big step forward, because 6 years ago, when I started after Suzuki, nobody believed in the Aprilia project. So, step by step, what they have achieved by working hard is incredible and now we are leading the world championship. , after having achieved pole position, and for the whole Noale family it is something wonderful”.
Now comes the most critical moment: to maintain the position of leader in the face of the threat of rivals willing to give their best to snatch that position from him.
“Well, it will be difficult, but we are here, fighting for the victory. As I said before, it has not been something that has happened by chance, but we deserve this victory”
“However, the championship is very, very long and if we don’t make any mistakes, we can opt for the podiums and victory. I’m very focused, I’m very happy for today, but I’m already thinking about the United States, Portimao, Jerez… I am already 32 years old, I am in the final part of my career and I want to finish in the best possible way.”
For now, the driver from Granollers will begin to defend his dominance this weekend at the Grand Prix of the Americas.
