Analyzes – Valencia GP – Pol Espargaro (3rd): “It’s a real breath of fresh air” –

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Valencia GP – Pol Espargaro (3rd): "It’s a real breath of fresh air"

Analyzes - GP Valencia - Pol Espargaro (3rd): & quot; It's a real breath of fresh air & quot; -

It was a supercharged Pol Espargaro in front of his audience who signed a splendid third place at the 2018 Valencia GP, synonymous with his first MotoGP podium and KTM’s first podium in the premier class. Bodes well for 2019 !

Pol Espargaro, KTM (6th in qualifying and 3rd in race) : "I was really very fast during the first round, I was fighting with Marc (Marquez, Editor’s note) and sometimes I even came back to Andrea (Dovizioso, Editor’s note). Then I fell and I really believed that I was I was injured due to the intensity of the shock. But the bike was not too badly affected so I left. And I did well, because a few minutes later they brought out the red flag. I told myself that it was a sign !"

  • Valencia GP 2018 :
  • Valencia GP 2018 : 
  • MNC special file : 
  • MotoGP 2019 :

"I really gave everything because I knew that this kind of opportunity was not going to present itself every day! I saw Dani (Pedrosa, Editor’s note) come back on me and attack … I had to fight to get this podium Usually a fourth place would have been fine for me, but then I had nothing to lose so I took a chance and it worked. It’s just crazy what happened to me. there was so much water on the trail, I still can’t believe it! "

"This result means a lot more than you might imagine. Getting on the podium is great, but for us it’s a real breath of fresh air. I’m so happy to see all these faces. They deserve it so much. than me. We went through so many difficult times this season … I dedicate this podium to my whole team, to my wife and to all those who have supported me. This year has been complicated, but we are finally leaving with a nice trophy ".

Site analysis: Yesterday in Valence, the scene had something to move the most jaded of observers! Back in the parc ferme, Pol Espargaro spent a long time on his KTM enjoying his very first podium in MotoGP. The n ° 44, third behind Dovizioso and Rins, is visibly struggling to achieve and seems almost stunned…

Analyzes - GP Valencia - Pol Espargaro (3rd): & quot; It's a real breath of fresh air & quot; -

Acclaimed by the entire KTM team, the Spaniard then advances to meet his young wife, Carlota, who cannot hold back a tear of pride. "Polito" then falls into the arms of his brother Aleix, also at the height of emotion despite his crash in the first part of the race on the Aprilia. Running with the Espargaros is a family affair !

This podium, Pol Espargaro went to look for it with his guts after putting himself forward all weekend, in particular with his splendid, on a dry but cool track (20 ° C on the ground). A performance indicative of KTM’s progress, even if the lap times were relatively slow due to the conditions (Viñales took pole in 1’31.312, almost two seconds off Lorenzo’s absolute record in 1’29.401).

Having started like a cannonball as soon as the lights went out, "Polito" quickly returned to fourth place and had even better ambitions before going off on lap 7, when the return of the rain trapped eight drivers in a few minutes. 

Analyzes - GP Valencia - Pol Espargaro (3rd): & quot; It's a real breath of fresh air & quot; -

Hardly cooled by this incident, the n ° 44 left the knife between the teeth on a damaged motorcycle among other things at the level of the bubble: not the most practical in these conditions of low visibility! Again on an excellent pace, the KTM official climbed to eighth position – overtaking his rivals in clusters – before the abundance of precipitation caused the race to be interrupted..

During the "second race", Pol Espargaro will be just as incisive and consistent and will fight for a long time with Dani Pedrosa, on whom he will take the upper hand in favor of 4th place. Extra boost: the fall of Valentino Rossi will open wide the doors of the podium with five laps of the checkered flag !

A deliverance after doubt

This third place, as beautiful as it is heroic, constitutes his first podium in the premier class since his arrival in MotoGP in. The 27-year-old driver hadn’t tasted champagne in Grand Prix since his victory at the Japanese GP in 2013, the year of his .

Analyzes - Valencia GP - Pol Espargaro (3rd): & quot; It's a real breath of fresh air & quot; -

For Pol Espargaro, this performance takes on a particular dimension in view of the difficulties encountered this season: a heavy fall while keeping him away from the circuits for four races, the time to heal his broken collarbone and several cervical contusions..

A trying period for the n ° 44, who admits to having known the doubt in the face of the persistence of the pain and the after-effects … To erase all that with a podium at home is undoubtedly the best thing that could happen to the, who has not not failed to greet the performance of his next box neighbor.

"A new adventure is now about to begin with KTM and the podium taken by Pol on Sunday is very encouraging!" Commented Johann,. "Me that boosts me and I think that it will also give him more confidence. We will be able to self-motivate!", Ambitions the French.

Analyzes - GP Valencia - Pol Espargaro (3rd): & quot; It's a real breath of fresh air & quot; -

For KTM, this first podium in just two seasons among the elite of world motorcycling tends to demonstrate the progress made on the RC16 at the end of the season. A good way to end a year below expectations, in part because of the injuries of Espargaro and test driver Kallio, because in general Pol Espargaro and Bradly Smith only appear in the 14th and 18th places: far from the Top 10 initial goals.

The men of the Orange brand were in all the more festive mood on Sunday as their rookie rider Can Oncu won the Moto3 race, while Miguel Oliveira won his last race on the Moto2 KTM before joining the MotoGP: Tech3 ! 

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