Espargaro "truly believes" Rivola can still turn Aprilia around
Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro believes its "best arrival" Massimo Rivola still can change the situation at the team - but also feels its 2019 MotoGP season is now a write-off.

Rivola joined the Italian manufacturer as its racing department CEO in the off-season, off the back of a long tenure with the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
Under Rivola's watch, Aprilia has put up significantly more points on the board than it had scored by this point in its disastrous 2018 campaign, but remains last in the manufacturers' standings.
Espargaro, who has been part of the team since 2017, has repeatedly expressed his frustration over a lack of progress with the RS-GP bike, but says Rivola's presence is a cause for some optimism.
"I truly believe in Massimo and I think he can change the situation," Espargaro said. "For me sincerely it's not easy to be positive and to believe, because it's already three years very similar here in Aprilia.
"But I have to say that with Massimo, if I feel that if somebody can change this, it's Rivola. He's the best arrival we could have, so I will give him a little bit of time."
Despite this, Espargaro admits Aprilia should look to switch its focus to the 2020 season, with him feeling it's unlikely to make significant strides with this year's package.
"I don't know if we have to think about rest of the season, or to think more to prepare next season, because what we need is a lot more competitive bike, a lot of improvements, and I don't think we can do this this season," he said.
"So, the important thing is to prepare that 2020 bike good. If we have to test some new items for the new bike during this season, it's going to be welcome, even if we lose some time during the GPs.
"But what we want is to improve the bike a lot, not a little bit. So the 2020 RS-GP has to be a lot more competitive.
"I think [we should] use this year as a test year - I don't think that the thing will change a lot during this season,."
Test rider Bradley Smith said already in Barcelona that the test team's "main objective is working towards an early 2020 bike out from Aprilia, and then having the opportunity to make version two, version three, like our competitors".
Espargaro continued: "The important thing is to prepare the bike for the future, to not have again one year like this one.
"I don't want to be a test rider during the season, but sometimes you have to."
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images

Previous article
Petrucci retains Ducati MotoGP seat for 2020
Next article
Crutchlow suffered tibia fracture after slipping on cobblestone

About this article
Series | MotoGP |
Drivers | Aleix Espargaro |
Teams | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini |
Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Espargaro "truly believes" Rivola can still turn Aprilia around
Trending
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title