Pol Espargaro He gives off very good vibes this preseason, both on the back of the new Honda, with which he is in love, and over short distances, when he gave this interview to AS at the Repsol Technology Center.
-I was very happy with his first place in the Mandalika test, even though he says it was just a test. How happy did it really make you?
-Very happy. It is clear that the other factories are also improving their bikes and we don’t know their potential, but they don’t know ours either. We also have room for improvement and being there so fast, with such a new bike, is something very positive.
-In F1 they say that the real value of the car is given by the result of the second driver. Forgive me for qualifying you as the team’s second driver, but having Marc next to you is something that would happen to anyone. Do you agree with that maxim and can you say that Honda has finally found a motorcycle for all its riders?
-Let’s hope so. Honda’s goal is for all its riders to go fast. That Marc continues to win or that I win or that they win the satellites, but that someone is leading the factory is something basic, that someone wins the title, but that the other riders also get results is something that all the factories want and that, for example, Ducati has achieved in recent years.
-How much responsibility do you have in the development of this new Honda?
-I guess quite a lot, like Stefan (Bradl, the tester), like the satellites. We have all contributed our bit. It’s a shame that Marc wasn’t in most of that process, because I think he could have contributed even more, but even so, we’ve all done our part.
-As much fall as you suffered last year has been rewarded with the arrival of this bike?
-(Smile). Yes. It’s important to have a bad time so that, when you have a good time, you know how badly you’ve had it and to be able to take advantage of the things that come. I hope it’s a good year.
-In what is the new Honda better and why is it more suitable for all its riders?
-For my taste, the new Honda is better in everything. There is nothing negative. I have not seen any negative points so far. It loses a little bit of stability in the front, but you gain so much in the rear that you don’t miss it either. In my opinion, I think the bike is better in everything.
-And how do you see it compared to the other bikes?
-Finishing the test first and the best rhythms that were in the preseason, and we only talk about preseason, I think we have the best bike. It’s just the preseason and we have to get to Qatar and see what happens.
-Can you fight for the title?
-It has to be the objective, there is no other. It is clear that Marc is the main rival, but Fabio (Quartararo) and ‘Pecco’ (Bagnaia) are also rivals, and the goal we have to have in this factory is to be world champions and that goes for me too.
-What does it depend on to get the renewal at Honda and how much does it concern you?
-I’m not worried about anything. I would be worried if the tests had gone wrong and I knew things weren’t going to go well during the season, but seeing how everything is going, the renewal is the least of my worries.
-What do you think when you hear other names? The one that has sounded the most is that of Mir, although Alberto Puig has been in charge of denying it.
-What I think? Whoever wants my bike will have to be in front of me. (Smile).
-How’s the family?
-It is going well.
– Do you plan to expand it again this year?
-No, leave, leave, leave. I already have enough. (Laughter).
-Good luck.
-Thanks.
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