Aleix Espargaro has proved he’s “a top-level rider” in MotoGP

Espargaro made a solid start to his fifth season as an Aprilia rider in the Qatar double-header, qualifying inside the top 10 for both races and scoring seventh and 10th-place finishes.

This is in stark contrast to team-mate Lorenzo Savadori, whose lack of MotoGP experience has meant he qualified last for both races and achieved a best finish of 19th in the opening rounds.

Savadori was…