By repeating certain performances, we end up raising our standards. Thus, Pol Espargaró is no longer satisfied, with his KTM, with a direct presence in Q2 and a top 10 at the end of qualifying. The proof with this eighth place at the Sachsenring which leaves him wanting more…
However, he doesn't have the best bike, and he's not in the best shape. But Pol Espargaro likes to move forward so much so that his 0.928 seconds delay on pole position Marc Márquez gives him some regrets: “ I expected a good qualification and a good weekend », admitted the Spaniard. “ But Q2 was a little more exhausting than last year. Everyone drives fast! We are also faster than last year. In FP3 it was already like that, and qualifying confirmed the trend. Unfortunately, I didn't achieve my ideal time in Q2, I made a few mistakes and lost two tenths, otherwise sixth place on the second row would have been possible. These mistakes annoy me, because a better starting position would have been helpful. In the MotoGP World Championship today, the start represents 40% of success. But overall I'm happy ».
And how's that damaged right wrist? “ Here we use less right arm, that certainly helps. I feel pain in certain corners on certain laps. But what to do ? I take a small dose of pain medication. I'd rather have pain » said Pol. “ But in the race, I will need something. 30 laps is a very, very long race ».
Pol Espargaro made significant progress in performance after the Spanish Grand Prix. “ The biggest advantage is that we have eliminated the lack of rear wheel grip. With the new engine configuration and the new carbon swingarm, we have made the hoped-for progress. As a result, we now have a better chance in qualifying. This is great, because starting position and takeoff are extremely important to us. And with the carbon swingarm, we still have reserves with the tire at the end of the race. Driving the motorcycle is less tedious. Additionally, the engine is even more powerful with the update. The character of the bike has improved in many areas. And we know exactly which aspects we still need to emphasize in our future development ».
Pol will take the hard rear tire in the race. “ The medium doesn't work for us. With the tensioner at the rear, you don't do 30 turns. The hard rear tire does not perform badly. Some drivers even used it in qualifying ". We will recall that both his teammate zarco which Valentino Rossi complained on Friday of being unable to use this soft rear tire.
MotoGP Germany Sachsenring J3: classification
| 1 | 93 | Mark MÁREQUEST | Honda | 1'20.195 | ||
| 2 | 20 | Fabio QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 1'20.400 | 0.205 | 0.205 |
| 3 | 12 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'20.406 | 0.211 | 0.006 |
| 4 | 42 | Álex RINS | Suzuki | 1'20.531 | 0.336 | 0.125 |
| 5 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1'20.690 | 0.495 | 0.159 |
| 6 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 1'20.857 | 0.662 | 0.167 |
| 7 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Yamaha | 1'20.964 | 0.769 | 0.107 |
| 8 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARÓ | KTM | 1'21.023 | 0.828 | 0.059 |
| 9 | 36 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | 1'21.061 | 0.866 | 0.038 |
| 10 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1'21.104 | 0.909 | 0.043 |
| 11 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'21.137 | 0.942 | 0.033 |
| 12 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'21.486 | 1.291 | 0.349 |
| Q1 Results: | ||||||
| Q2 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'20.933 | ||
| Q2 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1'21.102 | 0.169 | 0.169 |
| 13 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'21.105 | 0.172 | 0.003 |
| 14 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | Honda | 1'21.227 | 0.294 | 0.122 |
| 15 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARÓ | Aprilia | 1'21.313 | 0.380 | 0.086 |
| 16 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Aprilia | 1'21.433 | 0.500 | 0.120 |
| 17 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1'21.446 | 0.513 | 0.013 |
| 18 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | KTM | 1'21.465 | 0.532 | 0.019 |
| 19 | 5 | johann zarco | KTM | 1'21.637 | 0.704 | 0.172 |
| 20 | 88 | Miguel OLIVEIRA | KTM | 1'21.683 | 0.750 | 0.046 |
| 21 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 1'21.796 | 0.863 | 0.113 |
| 22 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 1'22.119 | 1.186 | 0.323 |
