Aprilia should "redefine" goals for 2018, says Espargaro
Aleix Espargaro says that Aprilia may need to adjust its expectations for the 2018 MotoGP season after a turbulent campaign last year.
MotoGP 2018
MotoGP 2018
In his first season with the Italian manufacturer, Espargaro finished 15th in the championship standings, taking a best result of sixth place in both the season opener in Qatar and later in Aragon.
The Spaniard's year also included eight non-finishes amid numerous accidents and mechanical problems, while he was also forced to miss the penultimate round in Malaysia after requiring surgery on his left hand after falling during an on-track battle at Phillip Island.
Despite claiming to enjoy his time riding the RS-GP, Espargaro said that his 2017 MotoGP campaign had been “really bad, because the points of the championship are not good."
He added: “Maybe I need to be [less] passionate, but you know how I am… I want to be on the top.
"Maybe we need to be redefine a bit the goals. I want to fight close the podium every single race and maybe we are not ready, as a package, everything maybe not we are not ready."
Questioned as to why the bike wasn’t as expected during the year and what changes can be made, he responded: “The most difficult point with this bike is the first part of the race, with the full tank I can’t push as I want.
“I want to forget the 2017 season, it has been very difficult for me. Many crashes, many engine failures, injury after a lot of years I didn’t have any big injuries. I can’t wait to start a new [season].”
Top six the target for 2018
Aprilia boss Romano Albesiano admitted that his team's low 2017 points tally was "depressing", but Espargaro said he had at least enjoyed his first year with the team despite the lack of results.
“I’m not happy, it has been not good," he said. "But how I enjoy the RS-GP and the level we arrive, I’m extremely happy. The most important thing is to be happy and enjoy your life, what you do.
“And [in 2017] I enjoyed riding the Aprilia a lot, this is the most important thing for me.
“I feel very positive that we can do an interesting season in 2018. I want to fight for top six in the championship.”
Additional reporting by Gerald Dirnbeck
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