It was a complicated day with two faces for Pol Espargarò, who made his GP debut with Honda today. The new driver of Alberto Puig’s team was the protagonist of two falls in the two free practice sessions on Friday, but made it into the top 10 (in tenth place) and thus, apart from surprises, secures a place in Q2. In fact, in tomorrow afternoon’s FP3 session, it will be difficult for the drivers to improve on the times they set tonight.
“The crash in FP2 is tThe classic that teaches you something – Pol said – I was looking for the limit, I wanted to enter the corner a little faster and lost the front. I’m like a rookie on this Honda I still have to understand, but it’s getting better. “
As already mentioned, Pol Espargarò had two falls today, the first in the first free practice.
“In FP1 there is always a problem on this track: We test under poor conditions that we won’t find in qualifying or in the race, so we put on tires that we may not like, so it’s okay, it doesn’t have me too worried ”.
Pol Espargarò still feels like a rookie on the Honda, a motorcycle whose philosophy is very different from the KTM that he has ridden for the past four years. is the trellis frame of the Austrian bike differs noticeably from the two-tube frame of the RC213V?
“Yes, you can feel the difference a bit, but it’s more of a general change. I have to change my driving style and that gets me in trouble, for example when I’m looking for the limit. Today was of course the first day and I’m half a second behind the first and already virtually in Q2, but I want to get faster and now I have the feeling that I don’t have all the situations that happen in a lap under control.
How do you mean?
“For example, I lost time in the tests in turns 10 and 11, while I did well there today and was slower in the first sector, where I was strong two weeks ago. Of course, the conditions are different from the tests, but that’s what I mean when I talk about not being able to control the situation better. Every now and then I drive a little far in one place, a little long in another, etc … “.
We saw you lowering your bike. Do you get used to using it?
“Yes, I used it today, but it’s not that easy. Obviously it cannot be driven in all corners because I am not in the right position at some points on the track and it is suitable for everyone, not just for Honda. It’s a device that can do very little to improve performance, but so little can make a difference in MotoGP.