Compared to the young riders, Aleix Espargaro does not lean as much next to the bike – this can also have advantages when it comes to tire stress
At 34, Aleix Espargaro is the oldest regular rider in the MotoGP field. When he contested his first race in the premier class in Indianapolis at the end of August 2009, Pedro Acosta, for example, was only five years old. Only Dani Pedrosa, with his occasional wildcard appearances, is still in the field from that time.
MotoGP has changed a lot since then. This affects not only the motorcycles, but also the riding styles. Marc Marquez coined the new style with extreme hanging-off with the elbow on the ground, which was also adopted by young riders.
In comparison, Espargaro rides with more of an old-school riding style, as he doesn’t lean so much next to the bike and doesn’t ride the most extreme lean angles. He also always emphasized that you shouldn’t force the Aprilia around the corner with a lot of body pressure.
“Over the past two years, we have analyzed what the advantages and disadvantages are if you ride like me,” says the veteran. “The influence on the tires is quite big. Stronger in some areas, weaker in others.”
Matteo Baiocco has been working as a riding coach in the Aprilia team for some time now. The Italian was previously active in the Superbike World Championship. He rode his last races in this series in 2016. He has won the Italian Superbike Championship three times.
“Matteo analyzes everything and makes lots of videos. We talk about it a lot. In many respects, my advantages are greater – more than you would think,” says Espargaro. This applies, for example, to a track like Barcelona, where the grip conditions are traditionally low.
“If you put a little less weight on the tire in certain aspects, then you don’t put so much stress on the tire,” is his secret to success on this track. Espargaro won the sprint and the Grand Prix in Barcelona last year.
Aerodynamics are also playing an increasingly important role in cornering: “Nowadays, you no longer have to touch the ground with your helmet because the bikes generate a lot of downforce. This makes them easier to ride. “
Nevertheless, Espargaro says: “It’s not the prettiest riding style, but it’s effective.” Compared to his younger brand colleagues, he still feels competitive. That’s why he says with a laugh: “So my riding style isn’t that bad!”
Trust between engineers and drivers is most important
The Spaniard has been riding for Aprilia since 2017. It is his team. A change of brand has not been an option for him in recent years. Because it’s also about the human component. Espargaro and his team know each other well and understand each other blindly.
“The most important thing for me is the trust between engineers and riders. If you’re not fast enough on a day, then it makes no sense to blame the bike. You have to say that the bike was very good, but I wasn’t fast.”
“If in qualifying the bike was fantastic but I made a lot of mistakes, then I have to say that,” Espargaro emphasizes. “It’s about that connection. You have to be clear and fair.” Because that builds trust in important moments.
“If I say to Romano [Albesiano] in a meeting that the bike is bouncing, for example, and he doesn’t see that in the data, then he believes me and we will work to fix it. Trust between engineers and riders is therefore the most important thing. “
“Because if you give a reason, they believe you. It takes time to build that connection. It would be impossible to have a better relationship because I’ve been here a long time and they trust me.”
Espargaro will remain part of the Aprilia family in the future. He will either continue to ride next year or switch to the role of test rider. Because the new regulations from 2027 will require a test rider with a lot of experience
