Aleix Espargaró has oscillated between impressive performances and moving moments since the start of the weekend in Barcelona, his last as a starting rider in MotoGP. And he doesn't hide the fact that emotion should take over this Sunday…
There were many notable sequences, between videos broadcast in the Aprilia garage on Friday evening and a ride on the very first motorcycle in the world championship on Saturday, organized by his wife, Laura. But Espargaró does not neglect the track: a few kilometers from his birthplace and on the circuit on which he did the double last year and won the sprint last May, he took second place in qualifying, just 0″055 from the pole of Pecco Bagnaia.
His sprint was complicated by a start which saw him pitch up a lot, before having to raise his bike at the first corner to avoid contact with Marco Bezzecchi. Out of the top 10, the Catalan was eighth at the end of the first lap and he was able to move up to fourth position. A promising pace for this Sunday's race, during which he will mainly seek to have fun. He therefore promises to attack, while keeping an eye on the quest for the title by his friend Jorge Martín.
Are you tired?
A little mentally.
It's been a long year…
Yes, and it was a long weekend.
Is the emotion there?
Yes. Which is good, but it's heavy.
You're still fit enough for a 125cc…
Hmmm, not so much eh! I was a little shocked. I said to myself “My God”, because I was already 1m79 tall at 15 years old, and I was a kilo or two heavier than I am now, so I said to myself “I don't understand how I was holding on to this bike!” The size of current motorcycles is incredible if we compare to the past because the Moto3 is bigger than this 125cc. It was incredible. I love my wife, I never imagined this surprise. I couldn't imagine a better way to end my career than with my first bike in the world championship and with my current bike. It's a brilliant idea.
Regarding this day, are you disappointed? Could you do better? You seemed trapped at first…
Yes. I was very focused on qualifying, to try to put in a good lap and give Jorge a boost [Martín]. I did an incredible lap, almost pole position. I missed it by less than a tenth. And at the start, I was very focused but we had a problem controlling the wheelie, I wheeled up to third or fourth gear. I was tenth or 12th at the first corner. I was very frustrated! Afterwards, I started to attack and I was even a little shocked to see my pace. I did a lot of laps in the low 1'39 window. I think if you take away the first lap, I was the fastest. I had the pace to fight for victory with Pecco but it's the race, so I'll have another chance [ce dimanche].
What are the track conditions?
Limit, limit, really. It's at the limit. We decided to take the hard tire at the front and I wasn't sure of myself at times but I saw that Pecco also took this tire. The times were quite fast because 1'39″3, I think it was sixth or seventh place in qualifying so it's a good time for a race.
What will be the tire choice for Sunday? Hard will probably be the right choice up front, but out back?
For the front, I hesitate between the hard one and the one we used [lors du sprint]. It just changes on the left side. Maybe I'll take a gamble and take it if it's over 25°C, which I can't imagine. At the rear, soft is not a possibility and between medium and hard, I'm not sure. I'll see. It's my last race so I'm thinking of heading towards the softer rubber, to have fun, and if I lose ground in the last six or seven laps, too bad. I don't want to wait, I don't want to speculate, I want to be quick from the start.
Aleix Espargaró surrounded by his team and his loved ones
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Are you starting to feel like this is more than just the end of the season for you?
The whole weekend was very weird. [Vendredi]I spent an hour in the garage before dinner with my team, we had a few surprises, videos, and I cried a lot. It's a really, really emotional weekend. One thing is certain, I was very lucky to find Aprilia. The love they have for me is incredible so I'm having a lot of fun and I'm going to miss them. Even if I make some wild cards in the future [avec Honda]which I don't want now but it might be necessary, it will be totally different because the atmosphere we have in the garage is incredible. [Ce dimanche]as you know, I am a very sensitive person, so it will be very hard to manage emotions.
On Friday you said you wanted to help Jorge Martín and we saw it. Did you talk about it before qualifying?
I talk more to Jorge than to my wife! We talk a lot, a lot, a lot. I'm not really happy to help him because I would love for him to dominate and be the fastest but it's wonderful for me because I've been following him in qualifying for three years so at least one last time , being able to help him a little to win this title, that pleases me a lot.
Martín seemed more relaxed after the sprint. Do you think it will be easier for him?
Yes. I think he is under extremely strong pressure because he is changing manufacturers next year so he does not know what his future will hold. He had an incredible and unique opportunity in front of him. I'm not saying he won't have more, but you never know what life will bring you. Joan Mir is a good example. It's incredible to be able to manage this pressure, to try to be gentle, relaxed. He had an almost perfect race. He was second the whole race behind Pecco, so he's doing a very good job.
Special helmets at the Barcelona GP
