Aprilia have brought a single hybrid experimental bike to Phillip Island for top rider Aleix Espargaro, combining old and new in a search for improved rear grip, after a difficult season with just two top-ten finishes, the best sixth at the Aragon GP, compared with seven last year.

Espargaro told press that it was “quite a different bike that arrived from Italy.”

As well as electronic and bodywork differences, the bike had a 2017 chassis. The Spanish rider had requested the return of this chassis after testing it with good results before the end of the European season, but had been denied.

The goal was greater weight transfer. “I was asking for this before, but it has not been easy to assemble,” he continued. The original plan had been to have it for all three flyaway races.

On its first day, he was placed 16th. His best qualifying this year has been twice seventh, in Argentina and the Netherlands; and he has won through to Q2 on only one other occasion.

photos GnG