Aleix Espargaro will stay with Aprilia for two more MotoGP seasons after signing a new deal as wait for the 2020 to start continues.
Following the confirmation from Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati regarding their rider line-ups for beyond the 2020 MotoGP season, Aprilia has announced the retention of Espargaro for two more seasons as the Spaniard signed a new deal with the Italian manufacturer.
Espargaro had joined Aprilia in 2017 – having made his debut in 2015 with Suzuki – and has been valuable asset for the Italian manufacturer in terms of development. His best result with them is sixth place in multiple MotoGP seasons.
“I am happy about this confirmation,” said Espargaro. “The human aspect is extremely important for me, and in four seasons, Aprilia has become my second family, so with this contract, which is certainly the most important of my career, they demonstrated that I am at the centre of this project.
“On a technical level, the growth in recent months convinced me, with the arrival of many reinforcements and the debut of the 2020 RS-GP, which did so well in the tests. I feel like we need to finish the job we started over the winter. I can’t wait to get back together with my entire team and race with the new bike, to take this project where it deserves to be.”
The re-signing of Espargaro comes at a time when MotoGP has been rocked with reports of multiple rider moves involving Honda, LCR, KTM, Avintia, Pramac and even Aprilia. The seat alongside the Spaniard is one of the hot properties right now.
Andrea Iannone is yet to be cleared to race in MotoGP with Bradley Smith likely to take his place, at least in 2020. For beyond the current season, Danilo Petrucci is the new name linked along with even Andrea Dovizioso, especially after Ducati signed Jack Miller.
Other reports link Pol Espargaro to be moving to Honda, with Alex Marquez to be dropped and likely to race for LCR. This led Cal Crutchlow to be linked to a ride with KTM and even Aprilia, while on Ducati side, Francesco Bagnaia seems to be in danger at Pramac.
Johann Zarco and Moto2’s Jorge Martin are both linked to a seat with Pramac. Despite no racing yet in 2020 MotoGP season, there are multiple theories being written about. There could be some truth in it, while some could be, at best, only speculations.
Here’s latest on Japanese GP cancellation
Here’s how British MotoGP Virtual Race panned out
Here’s more riders starting to go test/train
Here’s news Jack Miller signing with Ducati
Here’s MotoGP on wildcard ban and concession changes
Here’s the idea of two round at Jerez
Here’s Jorge Lorenzo on Andrea Iannone