A great opportunity for Dominique Aegerter, one that the Swiss rider seized with both hands. The newly crowned MotoE champion has got a first taste of what it's like to ride a MotoGP bike. The morning spent on track at Misano allowed him to get an idea as to the GSX-RR. And the number 77 rider was still in disbelief as he took his helmet off.

Aegerter in MotoGP: "I got the OK, I said wow!"

Blonde and with the kind of smile you only see in a toothpaste commercial, Dominique is understandably in seventh heaven: "Getting on a MotoGP is a dream come true”, he comments, “also because look how beautiful the Suzuki is - fantastic, sexy, with my number 77 on the front… I really want to thank team Ecstar for the opportunity, they’ve all been so nice, explaining different things to me before sending me out”.

Before taking part in the session, the Swiss rider needed to have the OK from his current team: "Ten Kate and Yamaha were in agreement, and so I thank them too. I received the OK between Sunday night and Monday afternoon and my reaction was pretty simple. Wow!”

Domi on the Suzuki: "Aragón is an option, but I hope Mir is back"

Unlike the MotoE, unlike the Supersport, simply unique. Exactly, unique. That’s the MotoGP: "With all that’s available, certain characteristics really stood out for me”, continues Dominique. “The Michelin tyres offer incredible grip, the seamless gearbox is amazing, and the gears and power come thick and fast without giving you chance to breathe".

It’s true, the horsepower is hard to ignore: "You reach incredible speeds in a short time, a matter of metres. And then you have to brake. I think I got on well with the braking. I realised that I would need to improve when it comes to getting the rear to slide. I’d need to do more testing, but the team really helped me.”

In the end, the times he set during the morning were not too bad: "Roughly two seconds and three tenths from the fastest guys, with two new tyres and 33 laps made. I think it went well. It would be good to try again - we’ll see. They’ve asked me whether I might race in place of Mir if he cannot compete. I hope Joan can be back soon though. As for me, it would mean a busy series of weekends; from Misano I’m heading to Magny-Cours for Supersport. Then I may be at Motorland for MotoGP. And then Barcelona for Supersport again. Anyway, we’ll see".

Aegerter, so how is the MotoGP?

Aegerter has more to say about the Suzuki: "You ask me whether it resembles a tiger? Well, luckily I’ve not ridden one of those but… yes, perhaps. It’s hard to explain, I’ve had so much fun, with so much power and grip".

And the lean angles? Domi was impressed: "And to think I wasn’t even at the limit, not mine or the bike’s! The turning is crazy, what can I say? I still have a lot to understand, but one thing is clear – I still need to get my head around what a MotoGP is, because it’s a hard thing to do".

Translated by Heather Watson

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