After a frustrating 13th place in tওhe first race, where Espargaro struggled to overtake, the Spaniard went on the offensive in Sunday's second outing.

But the lack of acceleration from the RS-GP meant Espargaro had to take risks with some 'on the ⭕limit' braking moves in order to climb forwards from 13th on the grid.

One of those moves was a T⛦urn 1 block pass on title contender Andrea Dovizioso, which caused the Ducati rider to run slightly wide.

"Yeah, I hate to overtake like I did to Dovi, but also to Lecuona - I didn't touch, but 🙈it was very close to the limit. Also Crutchlow," Espargaro said.

"The Aprilia doesn't accelerate like the other bikes so when I arrive in the brakes I'm not close to them. So I have t💜o recover the space that I🀅 lose in acceleration, plus make the overtake.

"This is why in last week's race I di💖dn't make any overtakes at all.

"But today I had more commitment, I was focussed to do a better race, I felt b💛etter and I risked more. I think I was clean, but I'm forced to be in the limit to overtake.

"I feel very sorry for Dovi, I know he's fighting for the ti🎀tle. I tried to be very clean, but the Ducati is very fast so to overtake him with the Aprilia I had to risk more."

Dovizioso, struggling for rear tyre grip by mid-distance, then made a mistake of his own later on the same laღp, allowing Lecuona and Crutchlow past.

But all of Espargaro's efforts would be in vain.

Having worked😼 his way to ninth place with🉐 just 3 laps to go, and still within sight of fourth, an engine problem forced him to retire.

"I don't know what to say. The results are not the ones✅ that everybody was expecting, myself as well. Last weekend we had many small problems technically, but we could finish the race and today we were doing a better race," he said.

"I improved a lot the set-up of the bike, I think I did 𒆙a very very good pace, considering starting from P1𒉰3. I think for example my race pace has been faster than Zarco who finished fifth.

"But every time, like in the past, we ask a lot of the engine to be in the draft of the fast bi🌸kes for ෴a long time. The engine stops. So today was the same. Nothing I can do."

Espargaro insisted that he wasn't angry, highlighting 💮that he's doing al🅺l he can as a rider.

That includes Saturday's qualifying time, which - although not good enough to progress past Q1 - would have put him seventh on the grid if it been posted🌳 in Q2.

"My job is to give the maximum I can. This weekend I🦂'm very satisfied with myself, sincerely I'm not angry," he said.

"Yesterday I did a '47.3 with the Aprilia in Aragon, just four-tenths from pole position, almost a lap record. I think it was a super lap, m♒ore than a second faster than my team-mate. And today I was just three seconds from fourth place I the race," Espargaro said.

"So I can't do anything else. Aprilia have to react. Aprilia have to improve the bike. But they know. So I will keep working and ins📖isting."

Team-mate Bradley Smith finished 15th and last, to take♒ the final point.

Espargaro is 18th in the world championship with three rounds to♈ go, with Smit🤪h in 21st.