The Tech3 GASGAS rider made a welcome return at Silverstone, the first time he had been back on a MotoGP bike s♍ince an awful crash on the first Friday of the season which resulted in serious injuries.

During his recovery, KTM revealed their intention to accept Moto2 star Pedro Acosta’s demand foꦫr a 2024 MotoGP seat.

Where Acosta fits in is still under consideration but KTM’s factory pair - Jack Miller and Brad Binder - are contracted while Espargaro’s impressive teammate Augusto Fernandez has been rewarded with an extended deaဣl.

Esparga♔ro also has a 2024 contract but, when asked if he was surprised to hear he might have to battle for his own seat, he replied: “No. This is clear. 

“We’re all here, we need to perform. I’ve been in MotoGP for 10 years - I have a cl🌜ear idea, if I want to stay then I have to perform. 

“It’s the only way. Especially in my situation, after a huge injury, ꦓthe doubts are there.

“But the doubts are there for 💜everyone. I want to come back in my normal state. 

“If not, I will movꩵe [aside]. I feel like I’m a part of the family. I won’t hesitate to move aside if the results are not great because I want to se🌊e the factory shining.”

KTM even explained t𒅌heir plan to buy an existing satellite team, enquiring about LCR, but to no avail.

If they are restricted to four, and having promised Acosta a seat, then they have five contracted 🔥riders vying for four spots.

Espargaro, the oldest of KTM’s five riders at 32, said about rﷺeturning from his i🦩njuries: “It is a mix of emotion. You spend more time here than at home, this is a part of my family. I was really missing the adrenaline. It has been my routine since I was 15. I have been away for such a long time. 

“It was a scary crash. It makes you think about a lot of thi🉐ngs. You sign a contract when you come racing that these things ജcan happen. 

“You see these things happen far away, and you think it’s not going to happen to you. But definitely it can. Wh🍷en it happens🐈, it is hard. 

“But it’s part of this sport, the athletes sometimes have these moments, their careers change in these m༺oments. I wiꦬll try to overcome it.”

Espargaro was able to complete both the Saturday sprint and the Sunday grand prix, where he finished only🍒 one place behind teammate Fernandez.