Aleix Espargar🌊o's good start to 2021 continues as he was a name that routinely appeared at the sharp e꧙nd of Friday’s Spanish MotoGP Grand Prix free practice sessions. 

T🍸he Aprilia rider finished third overall, only behind Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo - top two riders in the championship.&n⛦bsp;

It wasn’t just over one lap that Espargaro was quick either, as he was one of a v𝓰ery select few that could maintain race pace in 🐼the 1m 37s. 

"I’m satisfied about day-one. The good thing is it looks like Apri𓂃lia and Aleix are working well everywhere we are going. It’s not just about one single track," said the 31 y🔯ear-old. 

"From lap 1 - lap 2 in FP1 - I felt very strong and comfortable with the bike. With the race tyre I fe🃏lt I can maintain a really high pace. 

"Overall sati💟sfied. The track is still a bit slippery. All riders will put more rubber on tra🎶ck so tomorrow could change. Why not? I feel good so let’s wait and see.  

"The goal is to improve a bit. Try to sꦚtart the race and go away from everybody! (Laughs✃)."

Along with Franco Morbidelli, FP2 seemed to suggest the pair were the strongest regarding race pace, however Fabio Quartar🌟aro, Francesco Bagnaia, and Takaaki Nakagami were others who looked particular꧑ly impressive as well. 

Espargaro does expect the field to get closer during today’s second day, saying: "Three tenಌths will cover everybody in FP3. But apart from one hot lap I think we have good pace.&𓄧nbsp;

"I was a bit shocked, we had more than 10 laps in the tyre and I was able 🌺to do a very quick lap. This will give me motivation for the race. 

"Especially the Yamahas and maybe the Suzukis will get🅘 closer tomorrow. But it’s difficult to go a lot faster than 37s on theཧ race pace." 

While Espargaro was one of the quickest throughout🔥 both sessions, the Spaniard seemed to lose t🦂ime to a few riders in sector two during FP1. 

But after having h🍬is trackside man Matteo Baiocco give feedback between sessions, it was a difficult area that was then turned into a strength co⛄me the afternoon. 

"This morning after the first session where I lost more time was sector 2. We had our track guy – Matteo Baiocco there – and he gave me some very gℱood tips and information. In the second session I finished top three in the secoꩵnd split," added Espargaro. 

"There I was stronger. I improved a lot fro﷽m𒀰 FP1 to FP2. Unfortunately with the soft tyre I didn’t put everything together. 

"I ဣgot traffic and made mistakes. In any case I’m fast in every split. If tomorrow we are able to put everything together, maybe we can challenge Bagnaia who is very fast on one hot lap for the first position."