---
title: "Aleix Espargaro to join Aprilia in 2017"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/06/26/aleix-espargaro-join-aprilia-2017/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-06-26T16:19:17Z"
modified: "2016-06-26T16:19:17Z"
---

# Aleix Espargaro to join Aprilia in 2017

Aprilia have today confirmed that Aleix Espargaro will be joining the team for the 2017 MotoGP season.

Espargaro will partner Sam Lowes at the Italian team for the next two seasons. Aprilia will be giving Lowes his first MotoGP test on the bike later this week at Assen.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/06/533217256.jpg)

Espargaro had spoken about how the Suzuki team had failed to make him feel valued after signing Andrea Iannone before negotiations had even begun with the Spaniard. Therefore Espargaro’s move is no surprise, especially after Suzuki signed Alex Rins to a two-year contract.

This will see Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl both depart the Aprilia team. Bautista has been linked with a move to one of the satellite Ducati teams, whilst Bradl’s MotoGP career looks to be at an end. The German could move to the World Superbike Championship, or make a return to the Moto2 class that he won in 2011.