Espargaro: Open Yamaha more potential than Honda

Aleix Espargaro is confident that his 2014 MotoGP team change will result in the double CRT class champion riding the most competitive of the new Open class entries.

Espargaro negotiated an exit from Aspar in order to join the new Forward Racing FTR Yamaha project, which features the M1 engine and chassis.

But with Aspar switching from Aprilia to the new Production Honda shortly after Espargaro's Forward deal was completed, some - including the Spaniard himself - appeared to have doubts that he had made the right move.

Such concerns were removed when Espargaro finished the Valencia post-season test as the leading Open class rider, 0.479s ahead of the top Production Honda, ridden by new Aspar signing and 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden.

Speaking to MotoGP.com, Espargaro said:

"I think at the first test in Valencia we saw the potential that the FTR-Yamaha has. I hope I am not mistaken, but the conclusion was that we were able to take our bike to an equal level with, and indeed exceed, that of the Honda.

"The Honda is basically a finished product, whereas we still have everything to do with ours, but our bike still went quicker than the Honda despite having done less laps; with this in mind, I think we have more potential.

"Many people have told me I am making a mistake in switching teams at this point and that the Honda will be better. Time will tell, but what I can say is that both the team and the bike are better than we expected."

Espargaro added that developing the new control ECU system - factory machines use their own software, but have less race fuel and engine changes - is the main area of focus at present.

Aleix's younger brother Pol, the reigning Moto2 world champion, will join MotoGP with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 next year. Colin Edwards has been retained by Forward to rides the other FTR-Yamaha.