Aleix Espargaro won't be happy unless he can ablꦚe to put the 'best Aprilia he's ever ridden' onto the MotoGP podium in 2020.

A veteran of nine premier-class seasons a꧟nd five different brands of machine, the Spaniard has been waiting since Aragon 2014 to make a return to the MotoGP podium.

Espargaro has so far matcheღd Aprilia's best four-stroke result of sixth place on three occasions, but feels he finally has the machine♒ry to fight for the rostrum repeatedly in 2020.

"I feel super good physically and that I'm riding better than ever in my career," Espargaro told the official MotoGP website. "This is going to be my third season at Aprilia and with all my crew chꦬief and mechanics around me I feel we are a really strong group.

"We made some big changes to the bike for this year. There were some🐎 small [reliability] problems in Malaysia and Qatar, but the overall competitiveness of the bike has beeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚn much much better than in past seasons."

Apriliꦰa's progress hasn't come from one particular area, Espargaro said, but by making the machine easier to control at the limit. A benefit that becomes magnified over a race distance.

"The RS-GP 2020 is♈ the best bike from Aprilia I've ever ridden," he declarﷺed.

"Tꦅhe engine is more 'electric', meaning the character is easier for the rider. The chassis is also a lot easier, the bike turns more in the second part of the corner and the biggest difference is overall you feel like everything is calmer.

"You are less stressed on the bike, can brake more relaxed... So for the race simulations in both Malaysia and Qatar i🍸t has been easier to ride, not just over one ♕fast lap.

"I think it's going to be a fu💖n season. It sounds maybe strange, but I feel like I'm ready to fight for the po🐬dium. It's not going to be easy, the level in MotoGP this year is unbelievably high.

"But Aprilia has made a big effort, I see that I'm rid🏅ing super good, so why not?

"If I don’t finish at least a couple of races on the podiumꦿ I won't be happy. I always put a lot of pressure on myself, but this is why I'm here."

Unfortunately, it will be at least a month (and probably more) before Espargaro hasꦦ a chance to release that pressure with MotoGP on hold until at leas🧜t May 3 due to the coronavirus.

"I can't want to start racing because tha༒t’s when you really know how good or bad the bike is, because in the pre-season it’s not that easy to co𓆏mpare with the rivals," said Espargaro.

"Unfortunately, we have to waiꦿt a little more… I hope it will be soon."

Test rider Bradley Smith has been lined up as Espargaro's 2020♈ team-mate pending the outcome of Andrea Iannone's FIM hearing for a positive doping test.