Aleix Espargaro has affirmed that he “needs” Aprilia team-mate Maverick Vinales towards the sharp end of the MotoGP field if he is to fight for the 2022 title.
The Spaniard scored his second pole of the year on Saturday in Barcelona while title rival Fabio Quartararo – who comes into the Catalan Grand Prix weekend just nine points clear of Espargaro – ended up third, giving him a golden opportunity to draw closer still to the Yamaha pilot.
Espargaro – who scored a maiden MotoGP win for both he and Aprilia in Argentina back in April – admitted that he was “happy” to have had team-mate Maverick Vinales show greater performance so far this weekend, the nine-time premier class winner having ended Friday second overall before qualifying eighth after struggling in the early events while Espargaro fought at the front.
He remarked that he “needs” Vinales to be fighting well into the top ten in order to help his title chances against the likes of Ducati, who enjoy a total of eight Desmosedici machines on the grid with which to enhance their championship chances.
“I’m happy to have Maverick (Vinales), I need him actually if we are to fight for the title, especially because Ducati has like 200 bikes there to play with in terms of data or to help Pecco (Bagnaia) with points for the championship,” explained Espargaro.
“A fast Maverick is better for me and the team, and also for the human side because I have a good relationship with him so I’m happy if he’s fast.”
Espargaro added that he still has “some good cards” to play in the Catalan GP to try and convert pole into victory, conceding that “speed isn’t everything” due to the slippery Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya tarmac that promotes high tyre degradation, especially in the hot conditions expected on Sunday.
“I’m very happy, the first part of the job is done but the most important part will be tomorrow,” continued Espargaro.
“We are doing a good job, not just with the pole position but especially in FP4 where we had good pace and did well with the rear tyre because tomorrow it will not just about being super fast but also managing the rear tyre.
“I think I still have some good cards (to play) tomorrow, but I’ll have to play them well because speed isn’t going to be everything.
“If I try to go away from the beginning this will be a big risk because you can pay a big price in the last five laps by destroying the rear tyre.”
“Finding the correct compromise is going to be very difficult, and I cannot wait for tomorrow.”
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