At the start of the season, Pol Espargaró no longer seemed to be part of Honda ‘s plans for 2023. Although Alberto Puig’s team signed Joan Mir, who was free after Suzuki left the world championship, Pol became related to the structure LCR satellite . However, next year he will return to KTM, this time in the Tech3 ranks.
“I had the opportunity to stay at Honda, and I respect them a lot for it,” said the man from Granollers on the championship’s official website, although he did not specify whether that offer was to continue in the official structure or the satellite structure . Pol revealed that Honda does not hold him responsible for the poor results: “They didn’t tell me ‘you’re not good enough, so leave the project’. They were happy with me and gave me the chance to continue, but I chose something else.”
The main reason behind this decision is the Honda’s clear lack of performance . Accustomed to dominating the championship with Marc Márquez , the brand has suffered more than ever since the injury of its star driver, and Espargaró, 17th overall, finds it hard to believe in any short-term progress, having perceived the lack of response in the last months.
“In recent years, Honda has had many difficulties, but the situation this year is extraordinary. In addition, we are facing new rivals, with young riders and many Ducati, which makes it even more difficult, especially on Saturdays. It is very difficult to qualify from the front and have a good race”.
“We are struggling, the bike is not working well, we have no parts to improve and everything seems to be going very slowly. Rethinking so many things takes time, and that costs us positions in the race and makes you lose, and lose, and lose, which is quite a lot. frustrating. On the other hand, when the Japanese bring something in, you know it will work. That’s how they work.”
Espargaró wants to recover in 2023
Despite two difficult seasons in which he has only been on the podium twice, Pol Espargaró does not regret joining the team he dreamed of as a child, and considered the experience rewarding: “For a driver it is not easy psychologically. , but physically and mentally I think I’m mature enough to deal with problems differently, and I don’t regret it.”
“I enjoyed the decision, I learned a lot, I had an amazing experience, I met amazing people who helped me grow a lot and I want to use this experience to become a better driver.”
With the return to his old bike, the KTM, and the reunion with his first MotoGP team, the Tech3, Pol Espargaró will seek to become that best rider. The #44 believes that the experience gained at Honda will help him get even more out of a KTM that he has shaped, and although he will ride in the satellite team with the colors of GasGas, he is confident that he will once again be the best representative of the Austrian factory.
“I want a bike where I know I can be fast, and know the people around me so I have everything I need to be able to perform well. I want to be the best GasGas rider, in this case, and the best KTM rider. I have something extra, my experience with different brands, and the knowledge of how this project started and how far the bike has come”.
“I think I can bring more than just speed and results. I’m open to anything, to do my best in terms of results, but also to develop a better bike.”
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