Pol Espargaró is experiencing the epilogue of a relationship that lasted two seasons with the team of his dreams as a young driver, Repsol Honda. It was a tough awakening once he was confronted with the reality of the RC213V and he won't regret it in order to better find an RC16 that's ultimately not so bad. It will be red GASGAS nestled among the accomplices of its Tech3 beginnings, like a new beginning. In the meantime, he sees what is being put in place for 2023 and the palpable tension in a box which is delighted with the return of Marc Marquez, but not only…
Pol Espargaro made a good start to his San Marino Grand Prix at Misano by finishing his first day just in front of the door of a top 10 which opens directly into Q2. He will try to force entry this Saturday on the handlebars of a Honda a little less uncompromising on this route than elsewhere: “ we made the wrong choice of tires before the qualifying race. We chose the medium front tire, it was a stupid idea. We should have chosen the hard tire but I didn't want to take any risks he says.
« Unfortunately it didn't go very well, the tire was too soft. But despite the mistake, we are very close to the top 10. You have to look: there are six Ducatis in the top 10, Marini should also normally be there, so there are seven. So we need to improve, but I don't feel bad » adds the Spaniard who with this remark on Ducati refocuses the debate on the development of Honda.
Pol Espargaro: “ Misano is the last test for Honda before the new bike makes its grand debut »
The latter will accelerate in particular during the next few days which will be spent in Misano for tests. An operation which should not be taken lightly and firstly because Marc Marquez will be in action. A certain pressure surrounds an HRC which no longer has the right to make mistakes and which is currently faced with European competition which has never been so strong in the history of the category: “ Marc's return is mainly due to the subject of the new bike » said Aleix's younger brother.
« This is the last test for the manufacturer before the new bike makes its grand debut », he recalls with this well-felt conclusion: “ it's so important because after the Misano test, they must choose a path. The direction must be clear after this ordeal, so Marc will come. Honda is afraid to develop a motorcycle without involving Marc ».
We will remember that the return of the king will not happen without collateral damage. Personally, Marc Marquez changed manager who was still a Emilio Alzamora present at his side since the age of 12. Furthermore, the technical director Takeo Yokoyama should disappear fairly quickly from the landscape while'Alberto Puig would soon be expected to share power with Davide Brivio...
MotoGP Misano J1 times
Credit classification motogp.com
