This Thursday, September 30, 2021, Pol Espargaro answered questions from journalists from the Circuit of the Americas, ahead of the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Spanish driver, author of a promising top 10 during the last round in Misano, and who will therefore try to repeat his good performance this weekend in the United States.
As usual, we report here the words of Pol Espargaro without the slightest formatting.
Motorcycle racing experienced tragedy last weekend with the death of Dean Berta Viñales in the Supersport 300 at the Jerez circuit. Can you give us your opinion on all these young people who ride heavy motorcycles, especially in categories where the pack is particularly tight, which can lead to increased risk. How can we improve the situation?
" I must say that the situation is more accident-prone today than in the past. I remember that when I started, there was only the Spanish championship and then we went straight to the Grands Prix. But now there are more and more categories with all these young people racing. »
" It It is clear that this increases the risk of accidents. All these young drivers are very talented, but the difference between each of them is really very small, and that's the problem. I think that it is not a problem of the quantity of riders on the track, but rather of the power on the bikes, the very young age of the riders, as well as their little experience. »
" For For me, one of the solutions to avoid these risks of accidents is to raise the age of entry into the category, in order to have more mature drivers, even though I recognize that they are for the vast majority of them very talented. I also think the motorcycles are too slow. I remember that in my time in 125cc the bikes were very fast, very aggressive. »
"But today a driver cannot follow another if the latter is half a second faster, otherwise he runs the risk of doing a highside. This is all linked to the lack of power of motorcycles. I say what comes to mind, but I also think that we need to really and deeply look at the problem to find the right solutions. »
During the test days organized in Misano, you tested the new Honda prototype as well as a new engine. Have you felt an improvement in the rear grip, which is the recurring problem of the RC213V this season? Do you think that the new engine can make progress on this point?
" I I think the engine was a good step forward, but the progress is especially noticeable when you consider the entire bike in all its components. This new motorcycle is very different, both in terms of the engine of course, but also in terms of aerodynamics. »
" In regarding the rear grip, the new engine helped a lot, but it must be said that the level of grip at Misano was very high, so it's difficult to get a real idea [the track had in fact been erased during of the San Marino Grand Prix which preceded the testing days]. »
