Pol Espargaró: "We arrived very late at our best level"

November 8, 2021

Portimao.- After getting his first podium with Honda in the last Emilia Romagna Grand Prix , two weeks ago, Pol Espargaró started sixth for the Algarve race, after a good qualifying on Saturday, completing a consistent performance and with a that not even he himself expected to be able to put on the asphalt.

A maneuver by Iker Lecuona at the beginning of the race forced him to change his trajectory when he was riding at the wheel of Alex Márquez, with whom “he could have reached the front seats and fight for the podium”, he imagined at the end of the day.

“I’m happy, the race went very well, better than we expected, the pace was faster than we thought, I had no experience with the rear hard tire and I was a bit expectant before the start”, Pol explained. that he could not test that rubber in FP4 after suffering a crash.

“We were fast and we rode at the same pace as those on the podium, and that’s important, although things happen later in the race that are out of your control. But the feeling is good because we have competed well in a circuit in which at the beginning of the year we suffered a lot, it cost us horrors, that’s why I was a bit overwhelmed, because in the championship we have options to finish in an interesting position at the end of the year, not amazing, but after a bad year we can finish eighth. So I wanted to get a good result and pick up points, but I came with doubts and the truth is that the weekend turned out better than expected”, the Spanish rider summed up his feelings.

“We started the race sixth, but we had problems at the start ( Lecuona bothered him in a pitch and lost several positions), but we came back and finished sixth and that’s important,” he stressed.

The season, Pol’s first with Honda, has undoubtedly been difficult, but the progression is evident, especially in the last races and after the podium in Misano, a pity that there is only one race left.

“It is true that now we have found a set up that works for us, the bike is capable of working even with little grip, I feel comfortable, the team is in a good dynamic, even on a weekend where the circuit does not benefit us and we had a crash we were able to make a good qualifying, have a good race and be fast, even being able to fight for the podium twice in a row. It is important to have that confidence that has cost us so much to have and, why not in Valencia we can go out and fight for victory. There is only one left, unfortunately, and we have to take advantage of the positive dynamics we have now, and even more so by running at home, with all the fans. I’m really looking forward to it,” he assured.

Polyccio also wanted to highlight the great work of Alex Márquez , who was ultimately the first Honda to finish.

“We have to value not only Alex’s race, but the whole weekend. We have used the hard tire thanks to the fact that he was the first to try it, we did not mount it and he did think that it could be useful, and that helped us a lot. It was the tool that helped all of us Hondas get there. It really surprised me and I don’t know the reasons that led him to do this great race, although Honda ‘s dynamics have been better in recent races, and that shows in everyone’s results”.

Espargaró lamented that this good dynamic has already reached the end of the MotoGP season.

“The sensations are very good right now, the pity is that the season is ending and that we arrived very late at this point, but it is true that the second place in Misano and having been close to fighting for the podium in Portimao, is something important which gives a lot of security to the team and peace of mind to Honda. And that makes us have a different work dynamic and we are all more positive inside the factory”, settled the boy from Granollers .

Pol Espargaro, Repsol Honda Team