Aleix Espargaro shares his concerns regarding Aprilia’s heating issues following Indian GP retirement
Aleix Espargaro has admitted that races with extreme heat conditions are the Achilles heel for Aprilia.
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Aleix Espargaro (Via Motorsport.com)
The 2023 inaugural Indian GP race weekend was a tough one for Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro. Even before the weekend started, Aleix had raised concerns regarding the safety of the track which was yet to be given the official FIA homologation. After that was done, the rider took to the track with others to inspect its safety. When all seemed clear, the riders took on the challenges of the Buddh International Circuit.
With extreme heat conditions at the Buddh International Circuit, India has taken over to become the toughest race in the MotoGP calendar. Aleix Espargaro had a lot of issues in qualifying, where his team sent him out early costing him dearly. Apart from that, he also had to retire from Sunday’s race as his RS-GP broke down despite the race being shortened from 24 to 20 laps.
In an interview, Aleix Espargaro shares his concerns. “I don’t know, the bike stopped,” he said of his Indian GP retirement. “It’s a shame. Every time that it’s really, really hot, we suffer. It’s not the first or second season. It’s something we have to improve,” he said. “The bike was boiling, it was very difficult to ride. The bike was competitive to ride but difficult due to the heat. Hopefully they (Aprilia) can do something, but it’s going to be difficult because we don’t have much time,” he stated.
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Marco Bezzecchi went on to win the Indian GP by over 8 seconds
Despite the tough weather conditions, Marco Bezzecchi’s pace throughout the shortened 20 lap Indian Grand Prix was very commendable. For almost 95% of the race, the Italian rider posted lap times of around 1 minute, 45 seconds. The consistency and cool that he kept went on to benefit him in the end. He finished ahead of Jorge Martin with a gap of eight seconds. This made him the first-ever Indian GP race winner.
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The tough weather conditions were a challenge for the riders. The race itself was shortened due to the riders not being able to push for the whole distance. Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin had to receive medical assistance after his P2 finish at India as he suffered from dehydration. Many have suggested for the Indian GP to take place as a night race or for it to happen in winter.
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