Pol Espargaro attributed his unexpected advancement to Q2 at Misano to a fortunate moment spent following Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta, whom he described as “the present and future of MotoGP.” The KTM test rider, filling in for the injured Maverick Vinales in his third race, had previously qualified 21st and 20th while acclimating back to the 1000cc/Michelin bike.
However, Espargaro secured a spot no lower than 12th by grabbing ninth place in Friday practice, finishing less than 0.2 seconds behind KTM’s top rider Acosta. “It was crazy!” he exclaimed about his Qualifying 2 achievement.
During his first time-attack, Espargaro found it impossible to improve his lap, telling his technician Manu that the bike felt both incredibly fast and dangerous, pushing him constantly beyond his limits. Then, while trailing Pedro Acosta and with Marc Marquez ahead, Espargaro joked, “Oh God, save me,” but managed to pull off a remarkable lap. The experience was exhilarating for him, stating that after many years of racing, being close to such talents as Marc and Pedro — the sport’s current stars and its future — was an incredible feeling.
Espargaro also highlighted how much the advantage of following another rider depends on who is leading. Despite the turbulence making things harder, following a smooth and skillful rider like Pedro, known for late braking yet fluid lines, allowed him to copy and improve his own performance. He recalled that during a previous race in Aragon, he struggled behind several riders but finally had a strong lap when trailing Fabio Quartararo, who rode smoothly and controlled the bike expertly.
Before this Tech3 call-up, Espargaro was focused on KTM’s 850cc/Pirelli prototype. He shared that he made a significant change in his riding position, moving a bit further back on the bike by adjusting his tank spacers for the first time in his career. This shift was based on the understanding that the traditional way he pressured the front tire was no longer effective; riding more backwards improves braking and traction, requiring changes in braking style, cornering, and throttle control.
He also discussed alterations to KTM’s aero package this year, explaining that the team removed much of the downforce by reducing the size of front and rear wings and taking off winglets on the swingarm. While this reduced bike weight significantly, it also demanded adjustments in riding technique. Since Espargaro hadn’t ridden much this year, he chose to emulate Pedro Acosta’s style and found it effective — with hopes to maintain this progress.
Additionally, KTM’s other riders, Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder, placed 11th and 15th respectively in Friday practice.
Fan Take:
This breakthrough by Espargaro underscores how mentorship and learning from elite riders can rapidly elevate performance, especially amidst the evolving tech landscape of MotoGP. For racing fans, it highlights an exciting dynamic where experienced racers adapt by following rising stars, potentially reshaping race strategies and rivalries in future events.
Source: www.crash.net
