Despite a third MotoGP podium being🔯 tantalisingly close, Aleix Espargaro is not disappointed with having to settle for fourth in Qatar.

The Aprilia rider, who started f🍰rom P5 on the grid, lost a few positions early on before mounting an impressive comeback. 

As part of his better-than-expected late race performance, Espargaro managed to overhaul two 🔯of the last three MotoGP world champions, starting with Suzuki’s Joan Mir who he had been stuck behind for several laps. 

With the Suzuki man making a breathtaking start from eighth to fourth, good money would have been put on the Spaniard coming through and winning due to his race pace shown in FP. However, like team-mate Alex Rins, both riders began to fade which made it easier for Espargaro.&n♈bsp;

The second of said world champions that the Aprilia rider picked off was Marc Marquez, as Espargaro produced a brilliant move heading into turn 10 with fi🧜ve laps remaining. 

And while Espargaro began to close in on brother Pol and Brad Binder for the podium, the 32 year-old ran out of time due to t🃏wo reasons, the first was down to taking longer than expected to pass Mir and Marquez before a ‘small mistake’ at turn four was the deciding factor. 

"Coming so close to the podium and missing it may seem like a disappointment, but I am extremely saꦜtisfied with our weekend and tod꧙ay’s race," said Espargaro. 

"The ඣtimes show thatܫ I was one of the fastest on the track. Unfortunately, I lost a few tenths battling with Marc and Joan. 

"And in the end, I think that 💛our tyre situation was better than ﷺmy brother’s and Brad’s, but a small mistake on turn 4 kept me from attempting an attack in the finale. 

"In any case, Aprilia is in the mix - we’re in it! It will be an extraordinary championship where we’ll certainly be 🐈able to battle with the top riders and the best manufꦕacturers in the world."