We believed during the short off-season that he was going to avoid them, but, ultimately, Pol Espargaró is experiencing the same difficulties that all the beginners on a Honda in MotoGP have experienced before him. This RC213V is definitely not simple when we thought that it had calmed down during the 2020 season, in the absence of the man who has put it in his grip since 2013, namely Marc Marquez. It is clear that in three Grands Prix, crashes are the lot of the three HRC drivers, from the LCR team to that of Repsol. Accidents which discouraged Jorge Lorenzo in their time. But Pol Espargaró, surprisingly, considers them a blessing…
Pol Espargaro start collecting scraps on the Honda. The score and severity of the shocks suffered from Nakagami and, above all,Alex Marquez, but seeing him on the ground is less and less surprising. HAS Portimao, he fell heavily during testing. However, his morale remains intact. Better, he considers these accidents as an obligatory step in his knowledge of the subject RC213V… “ Cit increases my confidence » even specifies the youngest of the I will espargaro : " This is a bit contradictory, because falls initially cause uncertainty and create a feeling of discomfort. But seen from a more distant point of view, these falls show the limits of the motorcycle. Every time I increase the pace, I get more and more competitive on a lap. Although I'm still unable to complete a full lap without error. But I feel like we have the speed ».
The Spaniard is 13th in the championship MotoGP and if he regrets abandoning in Portugal, it is because of a technical failure. “ Regarding results, we have not set ourselves any objectives » he assures. “ As for the team, I knew practically everyone. It made me feel at home. I knew who they were, I had talked to many of them, and that gave me some security even during the tests. I knew how I would be treated ».
Pol Espargaró relies more on Marc Marquez than he fears
If indulgence regarding results is appropriate for the moment, it could crumble in the event of a rise in power. Marc Marquez which would thus widen a large gap between the two Honda official. A situation already experienced which wore out his teammates. But as with falls, what appears to be a danger is considered a blessing by Pol Espargaro : “ I think it's positive for everyone » he said about the return of the eight-time World Champion.
« Ultimately, no one can develop a motorcycle better than the rider who has ridden it the longest, who knows the history of the motorcycle, who knows its weaknesses and strengths and can improve them. Marc is the one who has seen virtually the entire process at Honda over the past few years and he will solve the problems we have with much more ease. It is clear that the pressure will be a little greater because it will raise the bar, but ultimately that is what we, the drivers, want: we want to ride to the limit to improve ».
Head to Jerez early May to experience a new stage in the evolution of Pol Espargaro on Honda.
