Aprilia MotoGP team leader Aleix Espargaro believes the 2021 RS-GP will put him in a position to fight with the other factory riders this season after he topped Saturday's Qatar test timesheets and finished third overall.
Espargaro was only two-tenths slower than quickest man Fabio Quartararo and said he was pleased with the bike over a race simulation.
“Happy overall, yesterday was a good day but today we improved by more than half second, so I’m very, very happy. Have to say that the lap times today, not just me but everybody, especially the top-six, have been very, very fast," Espargaro said, speaking at the track.
“We try again a lot of things and I did a long-run, a race simulation, to understand the bike. The bike, sincerely, with full tank is quite different than last season, it’s super physical, and we have to find a little bit different balance that allows me to ride a little bit more relaxed due to the downforce we have this year.
"The bike is very, very heavy and difficult to be competitive in the last part of the race. Overall we improve a lot, the stability of the bike so I’m very happy.
We prove that we can be competitive at one lap but also in long-distance. Still three days in front of us but happy overall about the first test."
The Spaniard is basically pleased with the new bike but says there is still work to do with balance as increased downforce is making it a heavy thing to cart around.
“This year’s bike has a lot more downforce so the stability obviously is higher, also the acceleration improves a little bit due to we have no wheelie, this is much better in terms of competitivness but also to put the bike on the corner is more demanding, more difficult, so I struggle a little bit.
"I need still to understand the bike. Today I managed to do one race simulation, it wasn’t perfect but I think apart from the flying lap, over a long distance we’ve been the most competitive ones so I’m happy.
“Yes, obviously I’m confident but I’m always confident. I’m a very positive guy. I think that if I’m here it’s to do great things and I have a very good team at my side.
"So yes, after the first test my confidence is a little bit higher than ever because I realise that I can fight for the top with the best riders but it’s just the first step, so step-by-step.”
