Aleix Espargaró, like in Austria two weeks ago, finished sixth and continued to lose points to the World Championship leader, Fabio Quartararo, although they were only a few to now be 33 points behind the leader. What has changed is that the rider from Aprilia has lost second place in the general classification in favor of Pecco Bagnaia, who with his fourth victory in a row climbs to second place in the general classification, something that Aleix cares “zero”, being only focused on the leader.
The Aprilia rider had pointed out the Austria and Misano circuits as difficult for him, setting himself the goal of giving up as few points as possible.
“I have not been very competitive throughout the weekend, in the race I have not felt bad, especially at the beginning, I have been fast but not fast enough, I thought I was going to be able to catch Fabio Quartararo, but I have not been at the level of Maverick Viñales”, who was third at the end.
“The truth is that Maverick here is always very fast and in the changes of direction he couldn’t keep up with his speed,” he added.
Aleix is relieved of these two “complicated” races for him.
“I already said at the beginning of the year that Austria and Misano were two races that worried me a lot, we came out with two sixth places. Before Assen we were 32 points behind the leader, now we are 33. We have to be positive”.
Aleix was fast in the first two thirds of the race, but the Aprilia rider identified what prevented him from being further ahead.
“I should have started higher on the grid. I’ve done some very good first laps, but if I’d started well in qualifying I would have been with the three in front, behind Maverick, and maybe I would have held on. There have been many laps that I’ve ridden at the same pace than them. But we know that in MotoGP if you don’t start from the first rows of the grid you’re sold”.
Austria and Misano were races marked as bad for Aleix, but now good circuits are coming for the Catalan and the bike seems to be at its best.
“We have a good engine plan for what we have left and now there are races outside Europe, this year we have been more competitive than the Yamaha and the Ducati outside Europe. Obviously I would have liked to recover points, but we have passed two very complicated circuits and I’m still at 33 points, it’s not a lot. I’ve done something right so far to be that far behind the leader at this point in the championship. So we’re going to trust”.
The one who looks very solid and very strong is Pecco Bagnaia, who has now placed second overall (30 points behind Fabio) ahead of Aleix.
“Perfect, I’m 33 points behind the leader”, an answer that leaves no doubt, the Aprilia rider sees the Frenchman as more of a rival than the Italian. “What do we want, to be first or second in the World Cup… well, that’s it, we are 33 points away,” insists Aleix , focused on Quartararo, who, when reminded that he is now third in the championship, assured that “zero” matters to him.
