Espargaro: Aprilia “has to prove” its Ducati-beating bluster in MotoGP now
Having already taken a grand prix win in the opening five rounds of 2022, Aprilia has just one podium to its credit in 2023 so far – a second for Maverick Vinales in the Portuguese Grand Prix. Espargaro has had a particularly mixed start to 2023, achieving a best of fifth in the Spanish and French GPs having started on pole at Jerez, and currently sits 52 points off championship leader Francesco Bagnaia in 11th in the standings. The Spaniard believes Aprilia’s gap to Ducati right now is “not that big”, but the manufacturer has to start proving this after a “much-needed” strong showing at Le Mans. “I needed a race like this, feeling strong, faster than the guys in front of me,” Espargaro said. “Obviously the result doesn’t shine at all, fifth place is not fantastic. But it’s a race I really [think was] much-needed. “I was feeling strong, fast. After this crazy start to the season we have no big injuries, so we can breathe a bit and come back to a very special GP as Mugello wi...