---
title: "Espargaro ‘proud’ of best result of 2016"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/16/espargaro-proud-best-result-2016/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-10-16T09:17:12Z"
modified: "2016-10-16T09:17:12Z"
---

# Espargaro ‘proud’ of best result of 2016

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Aleix Espargaro says that he is ‘proud’ of the fourth place he achieved at the Japanese Grand Prix and was happy to fight at the front, but admits that he expected more.

The Spaniard has enjoyed one of his best weekends of the year. His pace throughout practice was strong and he managed to out-qualify teammate Maverick Vinales, the number 41 guiding his GSX-RR to sixth on the grid.

Espargaro was concerned about overheating brakes, and said yesterday that his plan was to get off the line well and try and find some clean air in order to keep them cool. In the end, he managed the situation well and seemingly encountered no issues under braking.

Indeed, Espargaro made good on his plan to get a good start and rocketed off the line, taking third briefly on the opening lap. He was bumped back to fifth on the following tour, but it didn’t take him long to find his way past Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso again for fourth.

The Spaniard held the advantage over Dovizioso for the next 10 laps or so, but was powerless to stop the powerful Desmosedici from tearing by. In the closing stages, he had to turn his attention to holding off his teammate in what would soon become a fight for the final step on the podium.

Espargaro repelled Vinales’ advances as best he could, but the Silverstone winner still managed to find a way by with six laps to go at Turn 9. The pair crossed the line six tenths adrift, fourth being Espargaro’s best result of the season.

The Spaniard now has his focus fixed on next weekend’s Australian Grand Prix from the iconic Phillip Island, where he hopes to carry on his strong form from Motegi and fight at the sharp-end once again.

“I’m disappointed for the final result because I was expecting a little more, but at the end of the day the whole weekend has been very positive. We did a great job, and finally we are seeing the improvements I was waiting for,” Espargaro said.

“It was the first time in the season I managed to stay very close to the head of the race and fight for the podium, so it’s a pity I couldn’t get up there, I tried all I could but finally I had to settle in fourth. It is my best result of the season and I’m proud of it. I’m happy that the next race will be immediately next weekend, we keep the focus and we’ll try to continue this positive period we’re having.”