BARCELONA, 3 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The former 500cc world champion Álex Crivillé considers that the current MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) has “quite controlled” this championship despite having a 21-point advantage over Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) who is already having his best season in the queen category.
“Quartararo is beginning to feel the pressure, but he knows how to deal with it because he is already a MotoGP world champion. He knows that it is important not to fail because he has Aleix Espargaró stuck and because Pecco Bagnaia will be stronger than him in some races. In short, Quartararo has it quite controlled,” he said.
As for Aleix Espargaró, the Woonkly ambassador considers that it will have gone well for him, like the rest, to have vacations after acknowledging that he finished the first part of the championship exhausted. “Aleix Espargaró is having his best season as he is fighting for the title of MotoGP world champion. This five-week summer break has come in handy for all the riders and the teams to get some rest”, he assessed.
In addition, the Catalan could benefit from the fact that his Aprilia teammate Maverick Viñales can confirm his improvement and aspire to do podiums. “Viñales lacks nothing to start being among the best and that means that at a given moment he can throw a cable at his teammate. If it happens that he is up there with Aleix Espargaró and Fabio Quartararo, he will try to help his partner,” he said.
Crivillé also valued the signing of Álex Rins by the LCR Honda team, a satellite of the Japanese factory, once Suzuki confirmed months ago that he was withdrawing from the World Championship at the end of the championship. “Rins knows that there is work to be done at Honda because it is a complicated bike to ride. We are all confident that the 2023 Honda will be a more manageable and versatile bike for all riders. In that case, Álex Rins will have no problem being among the best. Today, it is a complicated bike to ride”, he acknowledged.
Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix, Crivillé is clear: “My forecast for the British Grand Prix podium is Pecco Bagnaia, because he is growing and pushing himself to the limit. Then Fabio Quartararo and Aleix Espargaró”.