Three-time MotoGP runner-up Dovizioso was ousted from the Ducati factory team at the end of last year and opted for a sabbatical after declining to race with Aprilia.
With the RS-GP 2021 immediately proving to be a strong package, Dovizioso requested two private tests from Aprilia before signing up for a full test plan with the Italian brand in 2021.
That year he took a sabbatical to make a full-time return to MotoGP in 2022.
However, Maverick Vinales is expected to take the second Aprilia seat in 2022 after filing to end his two-year Yamaha deal in late 2021.
Espargaro has famously dubbed Dovizioso his favorite MotoGP rider and hopes to replicate at Aprilia what the Italian did at Ducati, but announced that Dovizioso doesn’t look like he’ll be racing in 2022.
“Dovizioso did some tests with us,” Espargaro told DAZN. “So far he hasn’t been very competitive and it seems that he doesn’t want to race.
“I’m a big fan of his, but it’s difficult for him to be my team-mate.”
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As a concession manufacturer, Aprilia can freely test privately with its racing line-up.
Espargaro, who already leads the development of the RS-GP on race weekends, would like to have a “stronger partner” on the team to share the burden.
“It’s difficult to develop the bike because you have to try new things,” added Espargaro.
“Aprilia wanted me to do a few tests and go into the wind tunnel over the summer vacation.
“It would help me if I had a stronger partner or if there was a satellite team, because that way they could spread the work over more shoulders and collect more data.”
Aprilia had been considering supplying a satellite team with motorcycles for 2022, but will only use their two factory team motorcycles next year after VR46 and Gresini have decided to partner with Ducati.