Espargaro extends deal with Aprilia
Aleix Espargaro has signed a two-year contract extension with Aprilia Racing, keeping him with the team through the 2022 season.
Espargaro joined the Italian manufacturer in 2017 when he lost his seat at Suzuki.
He finished 14th in the riders' standings in 2019, his best performance in three seasons with Aprilia, with the campaign featuring a seventh-place finish at the Aragon Grand Prix.
"I am happy about this confirmation," Espargaro, 30, said after confirming his renewal with a post on social media.
"The human aspect is extremely important for me, and in four seasons, Aprilia has become my second family.
View this post on InstagramAPRILIA FAMILY 2021-2022 Muy contento de seguir en @aprilia El proyecto esta creciendo mucho y me hace ilusión liderarlo hasta donde nos merecemos, lo mas alto!
"With this contract, which is certainly the most important of my career, they demonstrated that I am at the centre of this project.
"On a technical level, the growth in recent months convinced me, with the arrival of many reinforcements and the debut of the 2020 RS-GP."
With the 2020 season yet to begin due to the coronavirus pandemic, Espargaro added: "I feel like we need to finish the job we started over the winter.
"I can't wait to take this project where it deserves to be."
His younger brother, Pol, rides for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, but has been linked with a move to Repsol Honda where he would partner world champion Marc Marquez in 2021.