MotoGP: Keith Huewen: Ducati the favourites, ’but you have to watch for Aprilia’

Ducati might have dominated the Sepang MotoGP Test but Keith Huewen is convinced that Aprilia are in the mix.
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia MotoGP Sepang 2023
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia MotoGP Sepang 2023

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Marco Bezzecchi, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jorge Martin and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Luca Marini, those are the three names that topped individual days during the Sepang MotoGP Test for Ducati, although 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Maverick Vinales was a constant threat for Aprilia. 

Whether it was riders aboard the 2023 Ducati bike or those with the 22 engine such as both VR46 riders and Gresini Ducati, the Italian manufacturer made a realy ♔statement of intent. Yet, Huewen believes Aprilia are in the mix.

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Speaking onꩲ the wuqian0♊821.com MotoGP podcast, Huewen said: "Ducati came into this season with a massive advantage and they’ve continued with that at the moment, but Aprilia, you have got to watch out for that factory. 

"The tiny little Noale factory - it's been looking good since the end of last year and the🦋y reckon they’ve got another motor on the bench as well that might give a little bit more performance. It’s going to be very, very interesting."

Aprilia have also been one of the leaders when it comes ಌrevolutionising the current aero packages seen on MotoGP machinery, with Huewen saying it’s the first time he’s seen Ducati, who have so often been the frontꦍ-runner in this area, take inspiration from someone else.

"It’s the first time I’ve known Ducati to follow someone else," said Hu💯ewen. "T✤hey are copying Aprilia."

But for all the positives Huewen showered Aprilia with, the former Grand Prix racer﷽ was🎃n’t ready to fully commit to them being a consistent challenger for the title because of one particular reason. 

𝔍Huewen added: "The problem you have at Aprilia is Maverick Vinales. He wins the testing every single year and is always fast in testing. Early on in the season you think that it’s going to be his year; the question is when we get to racing with Maverick Vinales and he gets hassled on the race track. 

"I think Aprilia needs𒉰 two top runners at the front pushing. Maverick is always great in testing, he’s always in the top three over the years, generally. And this year he’s showing a lot of promise but would you put any money on it? Maybe if it was long odds."

One name who could be someone to watch and H🌠uewen addressed it on the podcast, is Miguel ไOliveira, after the Portuguese rider moved from KTM to the new RNF Aprilia outfit. 

Miguel Oliveira, Sepang MotoGP test, 11 February
Miguel Oliveira, Sepang MotoGP test, 11 February

"Oliveira is going to be a real asset in my view," added Huewen. "I think he’s got headroom. I t꧟hink it’s one of those situations where he’s got potential to be better than what we think he might be. 

"Keeping with Aprilia. Would you have Aleix winning a championship? I think he had his opportunity last year and I’m not sure he’s g♚oing to get another one this year. 

"This is not controversial but I’m going to get slapped [figurately speaking] for it… I think Maverick Vinales, technically, is a faster rider than Aleix Espargaro. But Espargaro always comes up with the good beca🗹use he never gives us. 

"He’s a fa🎶𝕴st rider obviously. But Vinales has the quality to be faster than Aleix. Will it be a year where he can."

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