Aprilia's Espargaro calls MotoGP championship position 'a disaster'

Espargaro joined Aprilia from Suzuki for 2017, riding an RS-GP that has improved considerably since it was introduced at the start of last season.

While the package still lacks engine performance, particularly in acceleration, its trait of not working the rear tyre too hard helped Espargaro charge to finish sixth in the Qatar season opener, right behind Honda's Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.

But he subsequently crashed out of the Termas de Rio Hondo race, struggled with his front tyre at Austin and finished ninth at Jerez.

A return to the top six was on the cards at Le Mans last weekend before Espargaro suffered an engine failure while closing on Jorge Lorenzo, leaving him 14th in he points.

Asked if the failure was a price of Aprilia's development efforts, Espargaro said: "It is possible, but we are a factory and we need to work as a factory.

"So, we need to improve. I came to Aprilia because it was a factory team, if not I would have gone to a satellite team.

"So if I'm here I want everyone to work as a factory team, this is why I came here.

"I think we are doing great things. The championship position is really a disaster, but apart from the America race we were always fighting for top eight, top six, which is great but [we've] just not [had] the best luck.

"I was five seconds behind Lorenzo [mid-race] and when the engine stopped I was just one second from him, so it's a shame because we could have again put Aprilia in the top six."

Seven satellite riders, led by Tech3 Yamaha rookie Johann Zarco - who grabbed his maiden podium at Le Mans - in fifth place, are currently ahead of Espargaro in the standings.

But the former Suzuki rider says he is happy with his Aprilia move, and the project's trajectory.

"This was my decision, my decision was to join Aprilia," Espargaro said.

"I put everything I had in my hand, I'm working more than ever in my life, more focused than ever in my life.

"I spend a lot of time with my Marco [Eschenbacher], my crew chief.

"We do a lot of meetings after every session to try to improve the Aprilia and I'm happy with the decision I took.

"Maybe, if I was on a Tech3 bike or a satellite Ducati I would be fighting for the podium.

"But I had the option and I choose Aprilia, so no regrets.

"I'm happy overall with how the things are going, but obviously we need a little bit more luck."