After scoring a podium position at the 2022 Qatar MotoGP, Pol Espargaro said, “This is a clear message that Honda is back.”
Following a stunning podium result at the Qatar MotoGP, Pol Espargaro has said Honda “is back.”
Espargaro was not considered a favourite for the victory heading into the 22-lap season opener, despite demonstrating solid race pace throughout the weekend.
Espargaro, on his revolutionised 2022 RC213V, proved to be precisely that, leading the opening 17 laps.
With roughly nine circuits to go, Espargaro appeared to be on his way to his first ever MotoGP victory, but, like in 2021, a certain Enea Bastianini showed incredible late race pace that allowed him to catch up to Espargaro and finally claim his maiden premier class triumph.
Unfortunately for Espargaro, he didn’t have the opportunity to combat Bastianini for the victory because he underestimated his speed in the Ducati rider’s slipstream, causing him to get his braking point completely wrong at turn one, allowing Brad Binder to past him for second.
Despite the mistake, Espargaro believes he would not have pursued Bastianini had he not experienced rear locking during the last seven laps.
Nonetheless, Espargaro believes his performance was strong enough to indicate that he and Honda will be back in 2022.
“I didn’t expect to be in the group with many people with the same pace, like that we could preserve tyres because we were with the soft front, soft rear,” Espargaro said, summarising his race.
“Also we could save some fuel as everyone is on the limit, but I led most of the race and faced a different race than we planned.
“I was pushing the tyre on it’s limit, pushing the engine on its limit. At the end, when it was seven laps to go I knew my tyres would be finished.
“I started to lose the right side of the rear tyre on entry to the corners. Then the front started to lock. My riding style is quite based on the rear brake and the entry to try and take some stress out of the front tyre.
“As soon as I had to use the rear brake and it was locking then I knew it was done for me. Enea passed me and I caught his slipstream; my speed increased so much that I thought I would end up in the gravel but I could stop at the end of the track and just Brad [Binder] overtook me.
“But at the end I’m happy because this is a clear message that Honda is back, not just with Marc [Marquez], but with me.”
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