Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro Contemplates Future in MotoGP
As the 2021 MotoGP season continues, one rider who is already looking towards the future is Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro. The 34-year-old has been racing full-time in MotoGP since 2012 and has been with Aprilia since 2017, helping to develop their RS-GP into a race-winning package.
But with his current contract set to expire at the end of the year, Espargaro is giving himself until the Italian Grand Prix in May to assess his form and make a decision on his future. And while he remains committed to Aprilia, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of becoming a test rider.
“This is a very good question. I don’t know,” Espargaro begins. ”Hopefully, Aprilia will offer a new job for me, but this is not the important thing. The important thing is to understand if I want to stay or not. I haven’t really decided yet.
“I want to wait a little bit more. I want to wait at least until Mugello to see how I perform, and then I will decide. I’m having fun this year, but I want to fight for top five every race. If not, it [the contract] will be the last one.
“I’m trying to understand what the best future for me is. I don’t think my future will be racing in another place other than Aprilia. If I’m racing full-time, I mean. So, if I’m racing, I will stay in Aprilia. But maybe I decide to stop and do some wildcards as a test rider, or maybe I decide to fully stop.
“I need to decide, but really I haven’t decided yet. I want to perform. This is my obsession right now. I want to finish on the podium every weekend. Then I will decide.”
The Appeal of Becoming a Test Rider
Espargaro also reveals that the idea of becoming a test rider has become more attractive to him in recent years, thanks to Ducati’s success with Michele Pirro.
“A lot. It’s a new job, a new role, that didn’t exist five years ago. Now we understand how important it is,” he says when asked if the appeal of being a test rider has grown for him.
“Ducati and Pirro changed the game six years ago. And now you see with Dani [Pedrosa], Pol [Espargaro], in KTM. Yamaha and Honda need to step up their test team. Their testing is not at the level of the Italians or KTM test teams. So, everything can change and it’s also a good opportunity for me.
“This is why I’m thinking about it. It’s something that I love, I’ve had a lot of fun over the last six, seven years developing the Aprilia. I think we did a really good job. So, I learned a lot of things and it’s also exciting for the future.”
Kosport Magazine’s Take
As the 2021 MotoGP season progresses, all eyes are on Aleix Espargaro and his future with Aprilia. While he remains committed to the Italian marque, the possibility of becoming a test rider has become more appealing to him in recent years. With Ducati’s success with Michele Pirro, Espargaro sees the potential for a new role in the sport and is considering his options. But for now, his focus remains on performing at his best and fighting for top positions on the track. Only time will tell what the future holds for Espargaro, but one thing is for sure – he will continue to give it his all until the very end.
