Espargaro was seen by many because the favorite for Sunday’s full-distance race on the Losail Worldwide Circuit, with six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez main the reward for the Aprilia rider after he confirmed gorgeous tempo within the closing laps of the dash to finis third.
However the 34-year-old’s hopes of including a fourth premier class win to his tally had been dashed in the beginning of the grand prix as he slumped from second to ninth on the opening lap, leaving him exterior the lead group.
Trundling in the midst of the pack, the Spaniard was unable to make any actual restoration from his poor launch and crossed the end line in eighth, simply three tenths away from GasGas Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta.
Chatting with the media afterwards, Espargaro described his lack of tempo on Sunday as “embarrassing”, saying a tyre situation could be the one cheap rationalization for his troubles in Qatar.
“I had some drawback with the rear tyre,” he defined. “From the nice and cozy up lap I felt that the rear tyre was like ice. No traction in any respect. It was as a nightmare all race. I could not lean, Nothing I might do.
“On Saturday night time after I went to sleep I used to be 100% positive I that I’ll win the race. That is how I felt.
“However the race was a nightmare. I used to be extraordinarily sluggish, [lapping in] 1m53s all race. Yesterday I did 52.4s in lap 8 of the dash, so it was embarrassing.
He added: “I am completely satisfied, it is race one. I have been very quick all weekend, I am nonetheless sixth within the championship.
“It is a good begin to the season however sadly I felt I misplaced alternative actually. This race was a nightmare. I used to be very offended all race.”
Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Espargaro’s tyre points on Sunday had been notably irritating as he had achieved a wonderful job of preserving the Michelin rubber alive throughout the dash race, which allowed him to cross each Marquez and Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia within the final 4 laps to assert the ultimate spot on the rostrum.
Bagnaia, who was unable to place up a lot of a struggle to Espargaro within the half-distance contest, went on to win the principle race at Losail with ease on Sunday.
Explaining what went fallacious along with his tyre, the Aprilia rider mentioned: “We’ve to attempt to perceive with Michelin and with the staff [what happened]. Up to now it was tough since you simply have the lengthy race and [Michelin] can say you do not have the pace.
“On Saturday, I used to be very quick. Even on the final lap I felt that I might go in 1m52-half fairly simply and immediately [Sunday] I nearly crashed in each nook.
“I used to be very fortunate sincerely to complete within the prime 10.
He added: “I had a while on the take a look at and a few pre-heated tyre however by no means ever within the race. So I am not saying that I had a nasty tyre.”
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing,Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Espargaro’s team-mate Maverick Vinales introduced the opposite manufacturing unit RS-GP dwelling in tenth to spherical off an underwhelming outing for the Italian producer, which had proven the potential to be Ducati’s closest challenger all through pre-season testing.
Vinales reiterated that Aprilia is successfully beginning the season from zero after radically overhauling its V4-powered MotoGP contender over the winter – and it might take a while earlier than it sees the fruits of its labour.
Nevertheless, he might already see a significant distinction in the best way the bike accelerates out of corners, with race begins additionally an space the place the Noale marque has made strides in comparison with 2023.
“We’ve to make a constructive viewpoint for immediately,” he mentioned. “I feel there’s room to enhance after all. We’re speaking about particulars.
“I discussed in Sepang we begin from zero with this new bike as a result of it is very totally different. We want information.
“After all, I am not proud of the consequence [in Qatar] as a result of our stage is far greater.
“I am proud of what I see and what I can deliver to the staff to enhance the bike as a result of one half that is essential is the beginning, [it] improved quite a bit in comparison with final yr. And one other necessary level is the bike accelerates rather well.
“So now it is about the best way we brake, particularly with the downforce and the distinction on the aerodynamics, it is pushing the entrance tyre on the fallacious aspect, so we’d like to concentrate on that and attempt to enhance.
“As a result of immediately the tyre had been implausible however the entrance was utterly gone. Usually I am the man who makes use of the entrance much less.
“So we have to actually consider this factor that could be a sign that we’re fallacious on the stability of the bike.”