Heat has been an issue for Aprilia riders for some time during races with extreme temperatures, with the marque testing a cooling tube on the fairing in recent events.
Sunday’s Thailand GP, won by Jorge Martin, was a sweltering affair, with Espargaro taking the chequered flag in fifth – though he was demoted to eighth after becoming the first rider to get a penalty under the new tyre pressure rules.
But speaking after the race, Espargaro admits some ‘panic’ set in during the final few laps as he struggled to breathe, while team-mate Maverick Vinales pulled out of the race due to the heat from the bike.
“Yeah, it was a difficult race,” he said.
“Sincerely, I couldn’t breathe. It was the hardest race of my life. In the last three laps I was panicking because I tried to breathe and I couldn’t.
“So, I was super, super worried. Yeah, when I came into the pits I thought I was going to die, I couldn’t breathe.
“It has been a really tough race for me to be focused. But for me, it’s like today’s race is a good example of my championship.
“We are position number five in terms of riders, the four riders who finished in front of me have been faster this year and they have better bikes than mine, that’s for sure.
“So, for me, today’s race is a pure example of my championship.”
Source: Autosport