MotoGP Red Bull Ring 1 J2: Pol Espargaró (KTM/5) talks about his mistake and that of Ducati

Anger, for now, suits him well. It is the state of mind of Pol Espargaró in this Austrian Grand Prix that he wants to use to erase the disillusionment of that of the Czech Republic experienced a week earlier. A race won by his teammate at KTM, a consecration that he saw from his box, since he had just fallen after a collision with Johann Zarco. But on the Red Bull Ring, he won't let himself be counted out. He has the means to play his card. If he stays on his wheels. However, in FP4…

This time, Pol Espargaro and no Brad Binder in his paws. He is currently the star of KTM home. But he is also feverish. He recounts his Saturday, which put him fifth on the starting grid. However, he could have done better…” I was getting faster and faster during the fourth free practice session, until the accident “, sighed the Red Bull KTM rider.

After the best overall time in FP1, FP2 and FP3 and the best time in FP4 despite a fall, Pol Espargaro expected to do the same in Q2. However : " It was a good day, apart from the morning when the weather played tricks on us and we didn't ride much. In FP4, I had by far the best pace of all the drivers on the grid. It’s very important for tomorrow and for the race. Overall, this day was amazing. But unfortunately I was quite aggressive, I had a good pace and I was getting faster and faster in this FP4 when I made a small mistake. I was too fast, I was sure, the front tire was overused, that's why I crashed. Of course, that didn't really help me in qualifying... »

« We missed pole position by 162 thousandths of a second after the crash. Imagine how close the times are. And after the accident, I had to switch to the replacement machine, which I wasn't used to. It was still a good day, although we still think we deserve an even better qualifying result. In the last lap of Q2 I was still on a fast lap, that would have been enough for the front row, but then I made a few small mistakes. If you push and apply pressure, this can happen. Still, I can't complain. We are happy: we are in fifth place, we are ready for the race and ready to fight » complete Pol Espargaro.

“A big mistake that Ducati let Dovizioso escape”

« Without the crash in FP4, pole position could have been possible. Unfortunately, bike #1 was subsequently destroyed, and I still feel a little different from the replacement one. But it was important that I built a lot of confidence in my pace of class. The prospect of fighting for a good result tomorrow is more important than a better starting position. It is important that we are on the second line. With a good start, everything can be changed... »

He ends with the fact of the day: the promised divorce between Dovizioso and Ducati : " I'm not inside Ducati, I don't know what the Ducati bosses think. For me it's much better for next year, because it's one less rival in the championship with a winning bike. But for me it's a big, big, big mistake that Ducati let Dovizioso escape. It's a driver that you know will bring home results, so for me it's a big mistake. In addition, I have great esteem for 'Dovi', he is a boy that I like very well, he is very kind and I think he deserved everything he asked for ».

MotoGP Red Bull Ring 1 J2: qualifying