At the Austrian Grand Prix pre-event press conference that also included Marc Márquez, Maverick Vinales, Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow, Pol Espargaro spoke to reporters.
As usual, we report his comments here, without any journalistic distortion.
Espargaro Pol : “It will be a bit of a stressful weekend for us. I'm very happy to be here and to arrive at the home Grand Prix for the factory after the points we scored last week. It's very pleasant because all the mechanics and the whole team are very happy and motivated to start this weekend. We couldn't have arrived here at a better time, and it will be stressful and we will have pressure. »
Your first top 10 for KTM was a good preparation for Brno…
“Yes, it was a great race. I think the conditions were a bit strange but regardless we had good speed with the bike. Normally, in the last races, we struggled to stay with the other drivers and in the Czech Republic, after my mistake, I needed to move up positions. I was able to catch and overtake other drivers, and it was fantastic. It was a great feeling. But I feel like we're a little better with every race and every test we do. Especially in Aragon after the summer break, it was very positive for us. We had time to test the bike and time to test everything on the bike, and we made a lot of progress. The factory is working very well, the guys are doing an incredible job and, in a few races, we have gone from the back of the grid to the middle of the grid. In more or less 8 races, it's incredible! It's really good. »
We have seen some images of Aragon and, indeed, you have worked a lot…
“Yes, we had many, many, many things…
There was Mika, my teammate and Miguel (Oliveira) also who helped us. We tried to divide the different pieces to try, but even that way, it was almost impossible to try everything. As I said, the factory works really hard and very well. It seems like they never rest or sleep. But if we want to be somewhere at the end of the year, the only way is to work, myself on the bike, but also the factory and the team. I am very happy and I really appreciate the efforts that KTM is making because we need it. »
Do you fight differently with your brother than with the other drivers?
“At the last race, yes. I caught up with him very quickly and I had a chance in the last corner, but it was rather risky (laughs). I was happy because I was ninth, so the first top 10 for the KTM factory, but if I had been in another situation I would have tried and the consequences would have been bad. It was the last turn. But yes, when I fight with my brother, I always pay a little more attention than with the other drivers. Not because I think about it, but it comes by itself like that. And the respect I have for my brother, I will never have for my opponents. »
