Misano podium 'a pain release’ after ‘huge decision in my career’ to join Honda
Following his first MotoGP podium as a Repsol Honda rider during last weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Pol Espargaro has two key areas in mind to make his second place finish a more consistent trend.
The Spaniard finished second behind team-mate Marc Marquez, which not only secured him a first podium at Honda, but the team’s first 1-2 in over five years.
The decision to leave KTM at the end of 2020 - his most successful season with the Austrian manufacturer, looked somewhat like a mistake for much of this season.
However, recent improvements at Silverstone, both Misano rounds and last month’s two-day test (same track), have seen Espargaro turn a corner.
Speaking after his first podium of the year, Espargaro said: "To just break this run without podiums and for Repsol Honda is a pain release.
"I took a huge decision in my career last year and honestly, everyone saw it. I was struggling a lot during the whole year."
With the 30 year-old now getting a taste for the podium again, it’s a position he’s aiming to be in more often than not.
But for that to happen, improvements regarding tyre selection and overtaking with a full fuel tank will need to take place according to Espargaro.
"There are two things here, the first is that I’m not sure my rear tyre choice in the first one was the proper one. In the first race here in Misano I chose the medium rear which allows me to stop the bike in a better way; but today I was struggling in that place," added Espargaro.
"I was not comfortable on the entry to the corners because the rear was sliding too much which was the same problem I had on the first weekend in Misano.
"And the second thing is that Marc [Marquez] is super good on the first laps with a full tank of fuel and overtaking riders. This is just something I need to learn with more experience on this bike.
"These two things; tyre choices and for sure the time attack in the first laps is something I need to work on."
