Pol Espargaró, KTM’s test rider, had a Friday full of ups and downs at the Austrian MotoGP, held at the iconic Red Bull Ring. Competing as a wildcard in this round, Espargaró was tasked with testing a series of new updates on his RC16, including revised aerodynamics with swingarm-mounted wings and a new exhaust system.
The day started promisingly for the Spaniard, who clocked the third-fastest time in the morning session, showcasing the potential of the new parts. “The morning started very well, we did a lot of laps,” Espargaró reported, expressing optimism about the possibilities for a good weekend. However, he also acknowledged the experimental nature of his role: “That’s why we are here with a prototype bike, to put it under stress and see if something goes wrong.”
And it did. In the afternoon session, Espargaró’s day took a different turn when mechanical problems began to arise. “We had several problems. We needed to stop both bikes. The bike stopped,” he explained, clearly frustrated with the difficulties that prevented him from continuing to improve his times. As a result, he finished only 21st, far from the expectations generated by the morning’s performance.
Despite the difficulties, Espargaró highlighted the aerodynamic improvements brought by KTM: “We felt a difference. That’s why we brought [the new parts]. In the tests, we were very fast, both in one lap and in the overall pace.” The confidence shown by Espargaró during the initial tests was one of the reasons KTM decided to use these updates in this weekend’s race. However, he also emphasized the unpredictable nature of his job as a test rider: “Things can go wrong quickly and easily. We’ll try to be luckier tomorrow.”
For Saturday, Espargaró is focused on qualifying for Q2 but admits that the situation is not ideal, especially with two other KTM riders, including teammate Brad Binder, outside the top 10 on Friday. “It’s not an ideal situation for tomorrow,” he said, anticipating a tough fight to secure a good spot on the grid.
While Brad Binder managed to finish fifth, Espargaró and the rest of the KTM riders still have a long way to go to achieve the expected results. Despite the setbacks, Pol Espargaró’s determination to maximize the potential of KTM’s new updates is evident, and he is ready to face the challenges that Saturday and the rest of the weekend may bring.
