26 May 2024 - Aleix Espargaró, after starting from pole position, dropped back a few spots in the opening laps of the long race, as had already happened in the Sprint race. However, the Granollers native struggled with lack of grip at the rear with the medium tyre. Despite this, he defended the podium spot for several laps, but in the final stages, he was forced to yield third place, settling for fourth.
Maverick Viñales’race was conditioned by a complicated start and a lack of feeling in braking. After skilfully saving a highside, Maverick came back to finish twelfth.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ, #41: “I gave one hundred percent all the way to the final lap. The feeling was good throughout the weekend, but in the race, I didn’t have grip with the medium tyre.
In any case, these past few days were wonderful, taking pole position, the Sprint race, and setting the track record. It would be incredible to win in Mugello – Aprilia’s home track – in my last MotoGP season.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES, #12: “It was a difficult weekend. I didn’t have grip in the race, and I was losing a lot in braking. The image of me saving the highside reflects the difficulties here at Montmeló extremely well. Now we need to look forward and focus on Mugello.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA (CEO Aprilia Racing): “We expected more from this race, given the results from last year. Congratulations to Pecco for his race, also considering the bad accident last year. Aleix rode a strategic race, but it wasn’t enough to take the podium at the end of the race. Unfortunately, Maverick found himself in nineteenth place on the first lap and coming back from that was extremely complicated. It was great to see Trackhouse so competitive and hopefully they will continue to grow. We’ll head to Mugello now, hoping to see the grandstands full like in recent races.”
APRILIA RACING WINS AT MONTMELÓ: POLE POSITION, LAP RECORD, AND VICTORY IN THE SPRINT RACE FOR ESPARGARÓ; VIÑALES EIGHTH.
25 May 2024 - It was a great day for Aleix Espargaró at Montmeló. The Capitano started by earning pole position at his home circuit, also setting the new lap record with a time of 1'38.190. In the Sprint race, Aleix lost a few positions at the start, but without losing contact with the leading group. After conducting an intelligent race, saving the tyres in the early stages, the rider from Granollers moved up several positions and took his first win of the season, Aprilia Racing’s third Sprint race victory in 2024.
Qualifiers were complicated for Maverick Viñales who struggled in the time attack, finishing the session twelfth. Despite a good start in the Sprint Race, his comeback was hindered by a lack of feeling with the front tyre. When the chequered flag waved, Maverick was eighth.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ, #41: "I have no words to describe this weekend. It’s a dream and I am experiencing so many beautiful emotions. It was a difficult race. The track did not have much grip and the pace the others set in the early laps was rather high.
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In any case, I knew that it would be difficult to maintain that pace, so I told myself to be patient and not to overtake in the early laps. The strategy worked and I am finally back on the top of the podium."
MAVERICK VIÑALES, #12: "I didn’t have great sensations on the bike, and I was unable to be competitive. I feel like I’m always at the limit with the front tyre and I can’t brake. It was difficult, but I’m still optimistic because we have another opportunity in the long race. We’ll work in the garage to have a better feeling in the race. I’m extremely happy for Aleix and for the team. They deserve this win."
APRILIA RACING LEADS ON FRIDAY IN MONTMELÓ: FIRST PLACE AND LAP RECORD FOR ESPARGARÓ IN PRACTICE; VIÑALES TENTH.
24 May 2024 - On the first day of practice on the Montmeló Circuit, Aleix Espargaró confirmed the great feeling he has with his home track. Aleix finished FP1 fifth, just four tenths behind the rider who led in the standings. In the Practice session, the Spanish rider further improved his performance, putting the best time of the session and the lap record on the boards at 1'38.562.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ:
“The weekend started well and I’m quite satisfied. The bike is working well. We knew that Barcelona would be a good circuit for the RS-GP24. As I crossed the finish line, I thought, ‘I’ll miss this feeling, this bike, and my team.’ The track doesn’t have much grip and it’s tough to figure out the right spot to accelerate, but I had fun despite that. This will be my last race weekend here in Barcelona, so I’m just thinking about having fun.”
PAOLO BONORA (APRILIA RACING):
“I wish to thank Aleix for everything he has given us. Even today, he demonstrated that he is in grand form. He managed to do an outstanding time and he showed excellent race pace.
The key will undoubtedly be tyre management.”
It was an intense day for Maverick Viñales, who finished free practice eleventh. During the Practice session, he lapped at a good pace, but he was unable to make the difference in his time attacks. Despite this, the Spaniard managed to go straight through to Q2 with the tenth-best time of the session.
APRILIA:
www.aprilia.com/en_EN/aprilia-racing/moto-gp
CALENDARIO MOTOGP 2024:
www.motogp.com/en/calendar
