Aleix Espargaro set for another MotoGP wildcard ou...

Honda will discipline a wildcard rider for the third time in as many MotoGP weekends when Aleix Espargaro seems on the British Grand Prix later this month.

The Japanese marque has embraced the wildcard alternative ever for the reason that collection returned to Europe final month. Espargaro rode its ‘improvement bike’ on the Spanish Grand Prix earlier than ceding it to Takaaki Nakagami for this weekend’s French Grand Prix. 

Now British followers can stay up for seeing the 35-year-old Espargaro in motion at Silverstone, the place the third RC213V will revert to the Spaniard’s fingers.

Espargaro grew to become a Honda take a look at rider following his retirement from full-time race motion on the finish of 2024, when he was an Aprilia manufacturing facility rider.

Talking after the dash race at Jerez, by which he completed 18th, Espargaro confirmed that there was nonetheless lots to work on. He pointed specifically to a vibration concern that solely surfaces beneath race situations.

“It solely seems when you find yourself pushing the bike to the restrict, and is barely seen in a take a look at, when you find yourself two seconds or one and a half seconds off [race] tempo,” stated Espargaro, who completed the Sunday Jerez race in 14th. 

“The chatter is a large drawback. In each different space the bike works nicely, however now we have to know the best way to resolve this drawback earlier than extra races go by. It isn’t about energy supply – it is if you enter the nook. 

“In my view it comes from the inertia of the engine, however to [confirm] this now we have to do varied checks that the official riders can’t do however I can. I’ve already spoken to [technical director] Romano Albesiano – I’ve plenty of concepts for various checks to know the place the issue comes from.”

Honda won’t participate in subsequent week’s personal take a look at at Misano, the place Yamaha has rented the observe to proceed creating the M1 2025 and the V4 engine.

Each Japanese producers profit from concessions beneath the present laws. These permit them better freedom to check and develop their bikes. 

Pictures from French GP – Friday