When it comes to MotoGP Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro is longer in the tooth than his own front teeth. Thankfully however that’s not stopped the steady Spaniard jumping onboard his high-donkey and having a crack at other riders for staying in MotoGP longer than they should – a topic he’s the seasoned expert on. In a recent interview Aleix, 72, chimed up about both Jack Miller and Franco Morbidelli polluting the MotoGP grid for too long.
Here’s what he said:
“I’m not going to comment on that [Miller] because I would get into trouble. If I tell you what I think about that and someone else who will end up in VR46, it will be wrong.
“I get on well with Jack, we are neighbours and he has just become a father. I know he likes motorbikes much more than me. I’m very happy that he can still be here. But there’s a much worse case.
“The case of Morbidelli is worse than that of Miller. There is nothing wrong with Morbidelli staying in MotoGP, but when you have a winning bike for so many years in a row, and your team-mates [Fabio Quartararo] beat you every time, in every race and every time trial, it doesn’t seem fair to me that you don’t give the opportunity to the young riders.
“When you have had many winning bikes and you don’t show anything, and they keep giving you options, then you see an Alonso Lopez [in Moto2] who is biting his lips to go up.”
So we at MotoGP thought we’d use our linguistic experts, who are paid by the hour, once again to decipher the hidden subtext in the elder Asparagus brother’s latest comments to explain what he really meant. Then we’ll analyse race data, using stats we stole from Wikipedia, to find out who really is the annoying guest that just won’t piss off home.
“I’m not going to comment on that [Miller] because I would get into trouble. If I tell you what I think about that and someone else who will end up in VR46, it will be wrong.
Translation
I’m not mentioning Jack Miller’s name. Although I’m about to mention it next. Bear that it mind.
“I get on well with Jack, we are neighbours and he has just become a father. I know he likes motorbikes much more than me. I’m very happy that he can still be here. But there’s a much worse case.”
Translation
That Miller guy lives worryingly close to me. And, like all Australians such as Mick Doohan, he talks with his fists. Especially when drunk…which is often. That’s something I’m keen to avoid as I’m more of a lover than a fighter.
“The case of Morbidelli is worse than that of Miller. There is nothing wrong with Morbidelli staying in MotoGP, but when you have a winning bike for so many years in a row, and your team-mates [Fabio Quartararo] beat you every time, in every race and every time trial, it doesn’t seem fair to me that you don’t give the opportunity to the young riders.”
Translation
In summary there’s nothing wrong with Morbidelli still being in MotoGP. Apart from the fact he’s still in MotoGP.
“When you have had many winning bikes and you don’t show anything, and they keep giving you options, then you see an Alonso Lopez [in Moto2] who is biting his lips to go up.”
Translation
I’ve never had a winning bike. Also, ‘biting his lips’ is a real saying right?
Is this a fair attack on the hapless waif Morbidelli? Let’s not forget that Espargaro has, on more than one occasion, ended up in an altercation with the Italian sloth Morbidelli. Most recently the Spaniard, who is the rider’s safety representative for some reason, acted unsafely by slapping Franco whilst the pairing were on track.
Aleix was fined for the altercation and told about the fine whilst he was in the middle of waving his arms around and spouting off about other riders not riding safely enough.
So who’s right? Who’s outstayed their welcome the longest. Let’s look at the facts:
MotoGP Races
Espargaro: 242
Morbidelli: 105
Miller: 164
MotoGP Wins
Espargaro: 3
Morbidelli: 3
Miller: 4
Wins to races ratio
Espargaro: 1.2%
Morbidelli: 2.8%
Miller: 1.8%
Races on the best bike (based on the championship winning bike)
Espargaro: n/a
Morbidelli: 16
Miller: 20
Beaten by teammate ratio (when rider had a teammate)
Espargaro: 14% (2/14)
Morbidelli: 83% (5/6)
Miller: 55% (5/9)
Conclusion
We’re not sure. All those numbers have confused us so we’ll let you decide.
Disclaimer: We at MotoGPNews apologise for using real data and facts in this article. We hope this has not caused you or your family any ill effects. Rest assured this is a one-off and the normal service of writing utter bollocks will return.