Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro expresses his disappointment with his lack of pace in the Qatar MotoGP race, attributing it to a rear tyre issue.
Espargaro was seen by many as the favourite for Sunday’s full-distance race at the Losail International Circuit, with six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez leading the praise for the Aprilia rider after he showed stunning pace in the closing laps of the sprint to finish third. But the 34-year-old’s hopes of adding a fourth premier class win to his tally were dashed at the start of the grand prix as he slumped from second to ninth on the opening lap, leaving him outside the lead group.
Trundling in the middle of the pack, the Spaniard was unable to make any real recovery from his poor launch and crossed the finish line in eighth, just three tenths clear of GasGas Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta. Speaking to the media afterwards, Espargaro described his lack of pace on Sunday as “embarrassing”, saying a tyre issue could be the only reasonable explanation for his troubles in Qatar. “I had some problem with the rear tyre,” he explained. “From the warm-up lap I felt that the rear tyre was like ice. No traction at all. It was a nightmare all race. I couldn't lean, Nothing I could d
Espargaro Pace Qatar Motogp Race Disappointment Rear Tyre Issue
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FIRST LOOK: Aprilia unveils 2024 MotoGP livery for Aleix Espargaro, Maverick VinalesFactory Aprilia team presents its 2024 MotoGP race livery.
Read more »
WATCH LIVE: Aprilia presents 2024 MotoGP liveryFactory Aprilia team to unveil its 2024 MotoGP colours for Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales.
Read more »
2024 Aprilia MotoGP bike like an F1 car in Qatar cornersAleix Espargaro says the 2024 Aprilia MotoGP bike felt as fast as a Formula 1 car through some of Losail International Circuit’s tricky corners in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.
Read more »
Aleix Espargaro: The Aprilia "worked perfectly", favourite for Sunday?Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro overtook Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia as he closed to within 0.729s of victory in the Qatar MotoGP Sprint.
Read more »
Aleix Espargaro names his “one rider to watch” for 2024 MotoGP season"He has done extraordinary things," Aleix Espargaro insisted
Read more »