Challenging the Japanese brands on their home tracks is a feat which is part of Aprilia’s sporting history, and at Motegi Aleix was ready to honour this tradition with a third-row start. At the off he joined the group of the first 10 riders, showing he could handle the pace, so when our no. 41 began to slip back, the Aprilia Racing box immediately identified the cause as a lack of acceleration. Aleix managed to stay in the points, finishing 15th, even though this is some way back from the position he deserved and had demonstrated he was within reach of the entire weekend.
