MotoGP interview: BT Sport team assess Aleix Espargaro's title chances

The MotoGP summer break is coming to an end, and we’ll soon be back racing with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 7th.

It’s been a top campaign so far with plenty of surprises and twists, but it’s Fabio Quartararo who has stayed true to form to lead the standings at this stage.

Behind him, Aleix Espargaro, the man who has shocked so many with his performances so far this year, and the man who seems quite possibly the only rider who could stop Quartararo winning a second premier class title.

Ahead of Silverstone, then, Give Me Sport caught up with the team at BT Sport to get their thoughts on some of the talking points of the campaign so far and, here, we’re taking a look at the title race and Aleix Espargaro’s incredible season so far:

Neil Hodgson:

“No one said him at the start of the year and if you did you’re lying!

“I mean weirdly you have to go he probably could win it. I mean you look at the calibre of the MotoGP field, all those world titles, all those victories, all those podiums and you see Aleix’s name, like no wins – obviously he’s had one now this year – and like five podiums if that across all classes it’s just weird, but it shows the beauty of MotoGP that the rider can make the difference. You know when I think about car racing if you’re not in the right car you pretty much don’t stand a chance and obviously Aleix has the human factor that makes a difference, he’s had a mental switch.”

“He’s finally believing in himself, what you usually find is a lot of the fittest riders are the ones that are more mentally slightly insecure because physicality is one area they can work on easily but actually the mental side they’re a little bit weak.

“What’s happened this year through his consistency and