Aleix Espargaro admits Suzuki move a gamble

Aleix Espargaro has admitted taking a big gamble by pushing to lead Suzuki’s much anticipated MotoGP return in 2015.

The Spaniard will quit the Forward Racing Yamaha Open class project after just one season to partner fellow Spaniard Maverick Vinales on Suzuki’s new 1000cc project.

On the eve of last weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP round, the 24-year-old said his priority is to join Suzuki, though it is widely believed a deal is already done and a formal announcement imminent.

After some encouraging testing performances from development rider Randy de Puniet in 2013, the new Suzuki has failed to show it will pose a serious threat to Honda and Yamaha’s domination of MotoGP next season.

The Frenchman was almost 2.5s off the fastest pace in a recent post-race test in Catalunya, where the Suzuki squared up against the entire MotoGP grid.

And Espargaro told MCN: “I know I am not going to jump on the bike and win immediately because it is a new bike. The challenge is really nice and Suzuki is a really big brand that wants to win the title in two or three years, so they will put everything they have into it.”

Despite having interest from Ducati and LCR Honda for 2015, Espargaro said he had set his sights on securing one of the two Suzuki seats last year.

He added: “Since last year for me it was the best option. Suzuki is a really big brand and the project is really nice. The LCR option was really good and it was not easy to say no because they will have a factory Honda next year and that will be really competitive. But I prefer to choose Suzuki and be a factory rider and improve the bike.”