The Aragon Grand Prix got off to a mixed start for Alex Escrig at the MotorLand Aragón Circuit. The rider from Puzol began Friday in 25th place in FP1, but took a significant step forward in Free Practice, where he qualified in 8th place and secured direct entry into Q2. “It was a weekend of ups and downs. We started working on Friday to find the best possible feel for the bike, and today I felt strong and competitive,” explained Alex at the end of the Grand Prix.
On Saturday, the Samurai focused much of his work in FP2 on understanding the behaviour of the bike and the tyres, with Sunday’s race firmly in mind. He finished with the 20th fastest time, before once again demonstrating his competitiveness in Q2, where he secured an impressive 9th place. Furthermore, a penalty imposed on another rider allowed him to move up one place and ultimately secure 8th on the starting grid. “I’m happy with the result and the work carried out together with the team throughout the weekend,” said Escrig.
The race got off to the best possible start, with a good start that allowed Alex to stay in contention for the leading positions. However, on the final corner of the first lap, he had a slight collision with another rider which dropped him down to 16th place, forcing him to mount a comeback. “Unfortunately, I made a mistake on the first lap, taking a risk where it wasn’t necessary, and this caused me to lose several places and made the race more difficult,” the rider admitted.
Far from giving up, Escrig reacted with determination and staged a spectacular comeback to finish in 9th place, securing another Top 10 finish in the Moto2 World Championship. The performance also treated the grandstands to some brilliant overtaking manoeuvres, particularly in the area where Alex Escrig’s Official Fan Club was situated, allowing them to experience the ‘Samurai’s’ battle up close once again. “However, I managed to react and pull off a good comeback, finishing in the Top 10. For us, this is an important benchmark from which to build, because it shows we have the potential to be up there. I’m convinced that, by continuing to work in this way, we can replicate positive results like the one we achieved at Silverstone.” With this result, Alex Escrig remains 12th in the overall championship standings.