Sepang MotoGP Test: Aleix Espargaro fears 2023 will be ‘the same as 2022 - Ducati is still the best’

Aleix Espargaro believes Aprilia have found small improvements ‘everywhere without destroying anything’, although he fears it won’t be enough to catch Ducati who again lead the way on day three of the Sepang MotoGP Test.
Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia MotoGP Sepang 2023
Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia MotoGP Sepang 2023

After a brief spell at the top for Espargaro’s teammate 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Maverick Vinales, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Luca Marini and MotoGP champion 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Francesco Bagnaia jumped back ahead of the Aprilia rider.

Espargaro is yet to join Vinales an🌳d the majority of the Ducati 🍒riders in setting a time attack during the final two hours of day three, however, the Spaniard remains inside the top six thanks to his earlier effort.

If Ducati finish quickest then they will have done so on all three days after 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Marco Bezzecchi and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jorge Martin topped day one and two.

Fearing the pace of the﷽ Ducati, Espargaro believes 2023 could shape up to be similar to last season.

Espargaro said: "The feeling that I have is thaꩵt the train of 2022 is the same as 2023. The Ducati is still the best bike with really good riders who all looked fast at some moments of the three days.&😼nbsp;

"I struggled a 🌟l🌼ittle bit with the conditions of day two, not many laps after this afternoon and during three days. 

"It was not easy for me to get back and be fasꦛt, but lap-by-lap I felt better. The 2023 bike is better than the 2022. But we still have to be patient and see if it’s enough."

Although the Aprilia appears to be stronger than last season, which is an impressive achievement given the pace they showed t🎉hroughout 2022, Espargaro is keen to test the bike’s potential at another circuit. 

"We improved 𝔉a little bit but we have to try in another circuit," Espargaro added. "This circuit, you almost don’t have any low acceleration as 🍨it’s super fast, super wide and you can let the bike be fast in the apex which the Aprilia is super, super strong at. 

"But on the tight corners I have the feeling we will suffer more. In mid-ran๊ge I have the feeling that we need a little bit more talk but we improved a little🐓 bit. 

"The racing engines that are already on the dyno are a little bit better than this one, so ste🌄p-by-step with the Potimao test, the engineers have one month and everything can improve."

When detailing what areas the RS-GP23 has improved on in particular, cooling💛, which affected the Spaniard during most of the overseas races towards the end of last season, has been a step forw🌠ard thus far. 

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP test, 12 February
Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP test, 12 February

Espargaro said: "With the new bike one thing is that the cooling is much better🏅. It was a nightmare last year. Indonesia, Thailand, here - it was really difficult to ride tওhe bike but now they did a really good job on this. 

"The bike is a little bit faster on the str﷽aight and the bike is more narrow which allows it to be more aggressive on the change of directions. 

"The new aero is a little bit bett🅠er for the top speed but at the same time, with🌟 the cornering the bike turns the same or a little bit better. 

"Overal🥃l we made one step forward in all areas. It’s a very small step but when you do small steps everywhere without destroying anything it’s very positive. Hopefully we can do one more in Portimao."

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