Aspar fears Aleix Espargaro departure

Aprilia’s radical upgrade of its 1000cc ART machine doesn’t appear to have convinced number one rider Aleix Espargaro to commit his future to the high-profile Aspar squad.

Espargaro dominated the new CRT category in 2012 and has been unstoppable again this season, the Spaniard frequently out-qualifying and racing factory prototypes.

The 24-year-old is under contract to Jorge Martinez’s Aspar outfit for 2014, but he seems hell bent on clinching a switch to Forward Racing, which will run a Yamaha YZR-M1 engine and frame package next season.

The YZR-M1 option could see Espargaro on Cal Crutchlow’s 2012-spec machinery but with 24 litres and a standard electronics hardware and software.

Aspar boss Gino Borsoi reckons the likelihood of Espargaro staying is only 50-50, with Forward owner Giovanni Cuzari confirming to MCN recently that he will make a rider announcement at the next race in Misano.

Borsoi said: “Aleix explained to us that a Yamaha bike could be the best production racer and he wants to find the best solution. Now he believes in Yamaha because that bike is already done. He will get the 2012 satellite bike and that was a good bike. The Aprilia project could be a really good project but it is a new project and we don’t know yet how its performance will be.”

With the future of Espargaro’s teammate Randy de Puniet still in doubt, Aspar could be in the market for two new riders.

Advanced talks have taken place with 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden while discussions have also got underway with current Aprilia WSB rider Eugene Laverty.
Borsoi added: “Aleix has a contract with us for next season and first we need to understand what is the situation with him. Nicky could be one of the best options for us.

He could be a really good guide for Aprilia. He is a strong rider with a lot of experience and it could be a really good project. We have discussed a few times with him and he likes the project. And we have spoken with Eugene too and he would be another option for us. He is a really strong rider and he has done a really good season in World Superbikes and I think he has the potential to be a really fast rider.”