Aleix Espargaro returned to winning ways this sunday at the Catalunya GP, completing an almost perfect round after winning yesterday’s sprint race in Barcelona. For much of the race he was behind his Aprilia teammate Maverick Viñales, overtaking him with four laps to go.
The #41 said in the quick closed-park interview that he was relieved that Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) didn’t suffer any major injuries in the incident: ‘I’m speechless. The first thing I want to say is that I’m very happy; really happy, that nothing happened on the first start. Fortunately, Pecco has nothing serious, I’ve just been told. This victory is for Pecco, because I was right at the back and I was very worried’.
Regarding the incidences of the race for him, Espargaro said that that, before the final attack, he thought he wouldn’t be able to overtake Viñales: ‘Then I tried to get my head together and for my riding style it was very difficult with this wind – because I was letting the bike flow in the middle of the corner and the wind was pushing me off. Maverick is much stronger to stop the bike and go, and following him was very difficult for me. I made a mistake when I was trying to overtake and then lost a lot of ground. For a moment I thought I wouldn’t catch him, he was too fast. But I changed the mapping, I was in «qualifying mode» for 25 minutes and I did it. I’m very happy’.