Aleix Espargaro admits he is still “risking too much” on his Aprilia MotoGP bike under braking at the pre-season Qatar test.
Espargaro was 12th fastest following a small crash on a difficult first day in Qatar, but was just under six tenths from the best pace in sixth at the end of Sunday's session.
The Spaniard says the team “improved a lot” from Saturday, but feels he is needs to get “safer” on the RS-GP into the braking zones.
“We improved quite a lot from yesterday, step by step better with '19 bike,” said Espargaro.
“I have to say there is still room too improve with my feeling on the bike, because still I feel we are stressing the front tyre and this is not good, we are risking maybe too much.
“But much better than Saturday, I feel comfortable. We are getting closer and closer to the first race, and every time I get better.”
He added: “[There were] no new parts on the bike, we just have the '19 bike from the Sepang test.
“But every time I feel better, and the important thing is to feel like [I'm riding] a complete bike. Every time, step by step I'm feeling more like this.
“My crew chief [Antonio Jiminez] every time has new info on the bike.
“We're trying to set-up the bike, because even if on Sunday we have been competitive, I feel we have to be a little bit safer and a little bit more comfortable on the braking zones.”
Espargaro says he will carry out a race simulation on Monday, which he claims will be the “most important of the pre-season” in order to see where Aprilia stands ahead of the first round.
“The race simulation on Monday for me is going to be the most important of the pre-season because, it is nice to go home in P6 after one lap, but definitely where it gives you points, where it counts is to do a good race simulation.
“This is the most important thing, I can't wait, I feel strong, I love to race and I can't wait to do a race simulation to see how close or far away we are from the top guys, our rivals.
“I think on the second part of the race the Aprilia has always been competitive, I feel in a good shape physically. So I can't wait to try.”
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