Pol Espargaró started the 2022 MotoGP season with a lot of enthusiasm. At the season opener in Qatar, the Spaniard finished third on the podium. It should remain the only podium for Honda so far. Especially at Espargaró the results pointed downwards.
After Qatar he conquered his second and so far last top 10 result in Portimao with ninth place. Since the summer break, his rankings have been: 14th, 16th, missed, 15th, 12th and 14th. Espargaró is 35 points behind his team-mate Marc Márquez in the World Championship standings.
Espargaró hasn’t received any updates for a long time as he will return to the KTM family next year and ride for Tech-3-GasGas. The overall situation is not conducive to motivation.
“It’s very difficult,” says Espargaró. “Since him [Márquez] returned to Misano, everyone went back to work. But for me everything has been the same for many races. Since I’m leaving, everyone knows there’s no motivation to improve.”
“I have what I have and I have to move on. I’m not getting anything and I know that I will continue to struggle. Nobody is helping me in this situation. That’s why it’s difficult.” Only Marc Márquez rides with the Kalex swingarms. Takaaki Nakagami received a new chassis.
Espargaró is still grateful to Honda
Espargaró admits that it’s difficult to stay motivated: “Yes, quite strong. It’s true. I’ve been in this situation with other manufacturers, but I have to admit that it wasn’t like that.” He’s referring to his time at Tech 3 Yamaha.
The Spaniard drove for this satellite team from 2014 to 2016. There he had an older model available and hardly received any updates. The way to the Yamaha factory team was blocked for him. That’s why he switched to KTM, who was new at the time, in 2017.
Espargaró Honda does not want to criticize too much. As he leaves the team, it is clear that in the fall he is no longer involved in new developments for the future: “I’m an employee and I do whatever they want.”
“If they need me to test something new – if not, then I’m in their hands. It is what it is. It’s not right to badmouth them. They gave me the opportunity to ride this bike . Although the results are not coming, I am grateful to them for that.”