Aleix Espargaro has revealed that he burned his hands during the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he finished 13th. The Aprilia RS-GP has gained a reputation for overheating issues, with both Espargaro and his teammate Maverick Vinales expressing strong concerns about its safety, especially during the hot races in Asia.

Espargaro said the team has made no progress in fixing the overheating problems this season, which severely affected his performance in the Malaysian Grand Prix. Battling the extreme heat from the bike for 19 laps, Espargaro only managed to collect three championship points, largely benefiting from incidents further up the pack.

Reflecting on the race, Espargaro described how the heat had not only affected his performance but also drained the bike's power. "It was very tough," he admitted. "In these types of races, where it’s extremely hot, it’s very difficult for us. And starting that far back on the grid made it even worse. It was a real nightmare. The engine was very slow; I couldn’t overtake anyone. The heat made it that much worse.”

“I could only pass Raul, and then the last three laps were incredibly difficult. I almost couldn’t finish the race – I couldn’t hold onto the handlebar. The heat was unbearable,” Espargaro continued. “I burned my hands and had to open my visor. The heat is the Achilles' heel of this bike."

Espargaro wasn’t the only Aprilia rider struggling with overheating. Raul Fernandez also had problems in Malaysia as he tried to find ways to cool down during the race.

“It was super difficult to manage the bike’s temperature. The last four laps, I was done,” Fernandez said. “I tried to finish out of respect for the team and my mechanics, but I couldn’t handle it. On the straights, I had to stick my head out just to get some air. It’s tough, especially when you’re in a slipstream and can’t get any airflow.”

Meanwhile, Maverick Vinales didn’t suffer from the bike’s overheating, but he did face some challenges. Vinales spent the majority of the race in clean air, as Fabio Quartararo circulated several seconds ahead of him in sixth.