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Factory Aprilia MotoGP racer Aleix Espargaro says he thought he ‘was going to die’ during Sunday’s Thai Grand Prix thanks to overheating complications with his bike
Factory Aprilia MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaro experienced extreme overheating issues during Sunday’s Thai Grand Prix, which left him struggling to breathe and fearing for his life. This problem, which has plagued the Italian bike for years, is due to heat flow complications that cause hotspots and can even lead to skin burns. However, the current issue is far more dangerous as hot air from the engine gets trapped behind the screen, causing riders to inhale air at temperatures over 70ºC. This not only hinders oxygen intake but can potentially cause lung damage. Espargaro described the race as the hardest of his life, with moments of panic and an inability to see braking points. His teammate Maverick Vinales was forced to retire early due to the same issue, as confirmed by Aprilia. Raul Fernandez, a satellite CryptoData RNF rider, was also affected by the overheating and expressed frustration for losing the opportunity to achieve his best-ever position in MotoGP. Improvement in addressing this issue is necessary for future races with high temperatures.
Source: The Race
