MotoGP Mugello: ‘We are contenders’ - Espargaro

Aleix Espargaro topped off what had already been a positive Mugello weekend for Aprilia by scoring the factory’s first podium at the Italian GP.

Seventh was the closest both they and he had got to the Tuscan rostrum on previous encounters, with Espargaro securing third in a heated race against a pack of hungry Ducati riders on home turf.

“I’m very happy,” Espargaro confirmed on Sunday evening. “Has been an absolutely fantastic weekend. It’s a shame that yesterday I was not able to be a little more competitive in the qualifying. I knew that will be difficult to overtake in the race.

“The VR46 guys were awesome. Because with the lack of experience they had, they made no mistakes, they were very fast. So unfortunately, I lose some time there, precious time that at the end, doesn’t allow me to fight for the victory.

“But a lot of very beautiful things for us during this weekend. I think I put a good show out there. So I hope that everybody from Aprilia - it was a lot of people from Piaggio in the garage - so I hope they enjoy with the fight and yeah, the podium has been a good trophy.

“I overtake a lot,” he explained of his eventful race. “I overtake in the first lap three or four times then I fight with Johann [Zarco] and then I fight also with the two Mooney bikes that I was able to overtake. Also the first two laps with Fabio [Quartararo] we have two contacts so it was more fun.

“We are just talking all the time that we cannot overtake due the wings, due the pressure of the front tyre but also we have to remember that the level of every rider in this category now is unbelievable. So forget the technology, forget the aerodynamics. Everybody brakes late. Everyone is very fast and nobody’s making mistakes. So this is the