Aleix Espargaró Discusses the Impact of Recent Technical Changes on Aprilia’s Race Pace
Saturday, August 17, 2024, was a remarkable day for Aleix Espargaró and the Aprilia Racing team, highlighting the importance of recent technical changes implemented on the RS-GP24. Espargaró, who finished third in the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix, discussed how these modifications were crucial to improving his performance on one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar.
Espargaró did not hide his satisfaction with the result, stating that it was one of the best Saturdays of his career with Aprilia. “I am very happy; it was one of the best Saturdays since I joined Aprilia and one of the best of my career. At this track, I’ve always had difficulties with the brakes and even crashed twice on Friday, but we worked on the bike’s setup, and from FP2, I started to feel better,” commented the Spanish rider.
The Aprilia team focused on improving the bike’s setup, concentrating on aspects such as brake stability and tire behavior, which were crucial for maintaining a competitive race pace. Espargaró highlighted that these improvements were essential for his performance, allowing him to stay with the leading group throughout the race.
These technical changes were also reflected in the qualifying sessions, where Espargaró secured an impressive fourth place on the grid, putting him in a strategic position for the sprint race. “I am very proud of my qualifying performance and the result in the sprint,” he said.
On the other hand, Espargaró’s teammate, Maverick Viñales, faced significant challenges during the sprint. Despite starting from sixth position, a complicated start and difficulties controlling the bike due to overheating tires and brakes resulted in a modest 11th place finish. However, this does not diminish the impact of the technical changes to the RS-GP24, which proved effective for Espargaró.
Meanwhile, wildcard rider Lorenzo Savadori used the sprint to test new technical solutions, gathering valuable data for the bike’s future development. Although he finished in 18th place, Savadori achieved the highest top speed in Q1, reaching 317.1 km/h, a positive sign for Aprilia’s performance on high-speed tracks.
Aprilia’s Technical Director, Romano Albesiano, also praised the team’s hard work and Espargaró’s commitment. “It was a good day on a particularly challenging track for us. Aleix delivered an excellent performance in both qualifying and the race. He worked very hard on his performance since Friday, even with used tires, and we are very happy with the results,” he commented.
The recent technical changes implemented by Aprilia have not only improved Espargaró’s race pace but have also reinforced the team’s confidence for the upcoming stages of the championship. With a second consecutive podium, Aprilia is showing that they are on the right path to establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 season.
