Aleix Espargaro, who will conclude his adventure in MotoGP this year after twenty years of activity, announced in Barcelona last week his intention to retire at the end of this season, at the age of 35. Up to this moment, his list of victories includes eight victories achieved with Aprilia, 11 podiums and seven pole positions.
The Catalan already said at Montmelo that he would seriously evaluate the possibility of taking on the role of tester, given the experience he boasts. Despite the success achieved with Aprilia, the brand with which he has raced for the last eight years and to which he gave his first victory in MotoGP, Espargaro made it clear that the Noale manufacturer would not be his destination once he hung up his helmet as titular driver.
In this sense, the one who moved decisively was Honda, who offered him an important challenge, given the difficulties that the manufacturer of the golden wing is going through. With this entry, it is unclear what plans there are for Stefan Bradl, who has held the role of tester since 2019.
Espargaro arrived at Aprilia in 2017 after two years at Suzuki, just when the Noale company returned to the premier class. During these eight seasons, the rider took on the role of developing the RS-GP, which went from being the worst bike on the grid to being a bike capable of winning races and being a great rival of the very powerful Ducatis, a job which he hopes to be able to repeat in Honda.
Luca Marini, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
HRC continues to experience a fast of satisfaction that seems to have no end. Apart from Alex Rins’ triumph last year in Austin, the Japanese giant is experiencing the worst moment in its history. Honda has finished last in the constructors’ standings the last two seasons and Marc Marquez’s exit at the end of 2023 has forced the hiring of another rider. Thus, Luca Marini was chosen, who at the moment is not adapting very well to a more complex bike than the Ducati, which he was used to.
At the gates of the seventh race of the calendar, which will take place this Sunday at Mugello, Joan Mir occupies 18th position in the drivers’ standings, equal on points with Augusto Fernandez. Luca Marini, on the other hand, does not appear among the points-scoring drivers, still finding himself at zero.
With the arrival of Espargaro, Honda hopes to take advantage of the concessions obtained due to the bad results. Yamaha is also benefiting from these, but it seems more active in its commitment to ensuring that the bikes become competitive again.
#MotoGP #challenge #Aleix #Espargaro #Honda #tester
