Espargaro: Aprilia has given me the love Suzuki didn't

The Italian Grand Prix was a tough moment for Espargaro, who found out - according to him, through the press and not via Suzuki - that his team had hired Andrea Iannone as Maverick Vinales' replacement for 2017. 

The Spaniard has had time to get used to the idea and find the best option, and after considering a few alternatives, both in MotoGP as well as in Superbikes, he finally decided to accept the offer from Aprilia, which always saw him as the cornerstone of the project.

The Italian team has been in the top series for a year-and-a-half as a constructor, and although this year it has taken a significant step forward, it is still far from what is expected from it.

However, in the nine races that have taken place until now, it has more points (72) than what it managed in all of 2015 (48). 

The team's growth is constant, and Espargaro's role will be crucial in the next phase, as he is a rider who combines talent with a big capacity to work hard.

The latter is a key quality when the team's target is to take a big leap forward.

That is what Aleix has done in the past two seasons at Suzuki, which on occasion, and depending on the circumstances, has been a threat to the leading teams in the championship: Honda, Yamaha and Ducati.

"I'm highly motivated with the chance Aprilia has given me," Espargaro told Motorsport.com. "The most important thing is that they have put a lot of trust in me and they've given me carte blanche."

Good memories

For the Catalan rider, this will not be his first experience with the manufacturer, which he knows from his stint with Aspar (2012 and 2013). 

"I have very good memories of Aprilia. I'm with Suzuki in part thanks to the two years I was with Aspar and Aprilia," added Espargaro, aware of what will be ahead of him come November.

"We'll have to start from scratch. I think the base Suzuki had at the start was worse than what Aprilia has now, so I think the work has been good.

"During the Aspar years, when we got the bike it was basically a Superbike with carbon brakes and a few more things, and in the end we made it competitive."

His eagerness to reward the confidence Aprilia has shown in him is evident - and it's that confidence and that affection is what he has been missing in his current team.

"I'm a little sad to leave Suzuki," said Espargaro. "I've missed a bit of affection, while Aprilia has given it to me all the time. That's what I'm most excited about, the fact that they believe in me.

"They have always made it clear that their priority was for me to be a part of the project, and that fills any rider with satisfaction."