A MotoGP race winner at Ducati and four-time podium finisher for Suzuki, Andrea Iannone insists he and Aprilia remain 'fully dedicated' after 14-17 finishes in the opening races of 2019.
Aleix Espargaro may have outfoxed younger brother Pol to claim ninth place on the final lap in Argentina, but the race underlined the need for greater traction from the 2019 Aprilia if it is to
Pol Espargaro admitted he had little choice but to walk into older brother Aleix's tactical trap during the closing stages of Sunday's Argentina MotoGP. The pair had been disputing ninth for most of the race, with Pol's KTM shadowing Aleix's Aprilia.
Aprilia's current 'obsession' is to improve the torque of is MotoGP engine in low RPM. Aleix Espargaro, who took the new RS-GP to tenth place (+9.6s) in the Qatar season-opener, explained that the factory is now seeking acceleration.
Aleix Espargaro is eager to build momentum and confidence following a solid tenth place for Aprilia in the Qatar MotoGP season opener with repeat performances in Argentina and Texas.
It was a case of so close, yet so far for Pol Espargaro and KTM in the season-opening Qatar MotoGP. The Spaniard began his third year as an RC16 rider 12.774s from victory, by far KTM's best Losail performance, but it was only good enough for twelfth place.
Pol Espargaro says after trying more KTM test pieces than the rest of the MotoGP grid at last week’s Qatar pre-season test he accepts making clear and sizable performance gains will be tricky to gauge but is eager to see the results of the intensive winter programme at the opening race of 2019.
Andrea Iannone is confident of making a positive race debut for Aprilia but concedes there will be a lot to learn in Qatar following intensive winter testing.
These are the latest Aprilia colours with which Aleix Espargaro and new team-mate Andrea Iannone will compete in the 2019 MotoGP World Championship. The livery was presented on the eve of the final pre-season test in Qatar, where three days of track action begins on Saturday afternoon.
Pol Espargaro has a simple aim for the MotoGP off-season: "Heal up". The Red Bull KTM rider suffered a hernia in his vertebra during a 250km/h fall at the very first test of the year, in Sepang, also ruling him out of the Thai test.
Following last month’s announcement that former Ferrari F1 team chief Massimo Rivola has been appointed Aprilia Racing CEO, the Italian has drilled in efficiency and team harmony being vital to its 2019 charge.
Dani Pedrosa has been ruled out of MotoGP testing action for KTM as he prepares to undergo a stem cell surgery on a double collarbone fracture which has recently been detected.
After a stunning first year in MotoGP, KTM was forced into a reality check in 2018, as it didn’t quite match the lofty expectations it set itself back in March. Injuries had a good deal to with it, and with this in mind, one of the year’s more intriguing signings took place.
Pol Espargaro was satisfied with his pace on used tyres during the final MotoGP test of the year at Jerez, but the KTM rider could only go a few tenths faster with a new soft rear tyre.
The Grand Prix Commission charged with rule-making for MotoGP has released fresh tweaks after last month’s meeting in Madrid including changes to race classifications, restarts and expanding wet tyre allocation.
Aleix Espargaro was left unconvinced by a new frame for his Aprilia but is eager to continue the experiment at next week’s Jerez test and is certain “we know exactly what areas to improve on” having matched his feedback with new team-mate Andrea Iannone.
Pol Espargaro’s stunning maiden MotoGP podium for both himself and for Red Bull KTM made history at the Valencia round but do you agree with the rest of our scores?
Pol Espargaro admits he felt under pressure to deliver for Red Bull KTM following on from victories in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes by Miguel Oliveira and Can Oncu respectively before his podium charge.
Pol Espargaro says he's more emotional and satisfied by securing his and Red Bull KTM’s first-ever MotoGP podium than his previous race wins and world title given the fight to reach it in the premier class.