Pol Espargaró Villà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈpɔl əspəɾɣəˈɾo βiˈʎa]; born 10 June 1991) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer who for 2023 rode in the MotoGP class for the newly named GasGas Factory Racing team, a development of Tech3 using KTM machines, after which he will be a test rider within the KTM organisation.[1] He previously spent two years with Repsol Honda Team.
| Pol Espargaró | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Espargaró in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Spanish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 June 1991 Granollers, Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bike number | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pol is the younger brother of fellow MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaró, and is best known for winning the 2013 Moto2 World Championship.[2][3] This earned him a move to Monster Yamaha Tech3 in 2014 but had 3 largely unsuccessful seasons failing to score a single podium.
He won the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015 with Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga, and in 2016 with Nakasuga and Alex Lowes. He is the first rider to finish on the podium riding a KTM motorcycle in MotoGP.
Career
edit125cc World Championship
editYoungest rider to score a championship point (2006)
editBorn in Granollers, Barcelona, Espargaró, arrived in the 125cc World Championship in 2006 participating in the last six races of the year. This rider from replaced the injured Andrea Iannone at Campetella Racing and made his debut on board a Derbi at the Czech Republic Grand Prix. Two months before, Espargaró had made history as a wildcard in the Catalan Grand Prix when he finished 13th to become the youngest ever point scorer in a Grand Prix at the age of just 15 years and 8 days. He ended the season winning five consecutive races in Spanish 125cc Championship to become champion, followed by a 6th-place finish at the Valencian Grand Prix.
First podium (2007)
editIn 2007, Espargaró aimed to further enhance the family reputation over a full season with Campetella Racing Junior Aprilia. The season start with two good results, a seventh in Qatar and fourth at Jerez, then a couple of Top 10s until the Catalan round where he finished fifth. Espargaró's turning point came in the Czech Republic where he finished in sixth place, before a top five in San Marino. The Portuguese race was the highlight point of his short career, claiming a third-place finish from seventh on the grid. Espargaró battled for the lead with Héctor Faubel and Gábor Talmácsi, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind Faubel, who won.[4][5]
Return to Derbi (2008–2010)
edit
After running last year on board an Aprilia RS125 in Belson Campetella, he switched the Aprilia for the Derbi, in this occasion an RSA and partnered by Joan Olivé. He ended up 9th in the championship, with 3 podiums and 2 poles.
Moto2 World Championship
editPons Racing (2011–2013)
edit2011
editIn 2011 he moved to Moto2 with the HP Tuenti Speed Up team with an FTR M211, obtaining second place in Indianapolis and third place in Malaysia and finishing the season in 13th place with 75 points.
2012
editIn 2012 he moved to the Pons 40 HP Tuenti team. He Came third in Qatar. He got his first win in the Moto2 class in Spain. In Portugal he came second. He won in Great Britain, He came second in Italy and Indianapolis and third in the Czech Republic after starting on all occasions from pole position. In the San Marino Grand Prix he came second. He Won in Aragon. In Japan he came second after starting from pole position. He Got pole position in Malaysia. He Won in Australia after starting from pole position. He Got another pole position in the Valencian grand Prix. He ended the season in 2nd place with 269 points.
2013
editIn 2013 he remained in the same team, obtaining six wins (Qatar, Catalonia, Netherlands, San Marino, Australia and Japan), a second place in Malaysia, two third places (Germany and Aragon) and six pole positions (Qatar, Catalonia, countries Bassi, San Marino, Australia and the Valencian Community). He became the world champion with 265 points.
MotoGP World Championship
editMonster Yamaha Tech3 (2014–2016)
edit2014
edit.jpg)
In May 2013, rumours appeared linking Espargaró with the MotoGP Tech 3 satellite Yamaha racing team, to replace British rider Cal Crutchlow. After Crutchlow signed a two-year deal with the factory Ducati team, Espargaró signed a two-year deal with Yamaha, the first year of which would be with Tech 3.[6]He got his first points in the premier class in the United States. His best result was a fourth place in France and he ended the season in 6th place with 136 points, also achieving Rookie of The Year and Top Independent Rider.
2015
editEspargaró remained with Tech 3 into the 2015 season,[7] finishing in ninth place in the final championship standings. In 2015 he also won the Suzuka 8 Hours , alternating with Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga driving the Yamaha YZF-R1. He thus becomes the second Spanish driver to win this race, after Carlos Checa.
2016
editEspargaró again remained with Tech 3 into the 2016 season, he finished 8th in the standings with 134 points and his best finish of 4th came at the Dutch TT. At the end of 2016 Espargaro and Yamaha split.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2017–2020)
edit2017
editPrior to the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, it was announced that Espargaró would join the factory-supported KTM team for the 2017 season.[8] He partnered Bradley Smith in the team, with both riders moving across from the Tech 3 outfit.His best result is a ninth place in the Czech Republic. He ended the season in 17th place with 55 points.
2018
editIn 2018 he remained in the same team, obtaining a third place in the Valencian grand Prix and ending the season in 14th place with 51 points. This season he was forced to miss the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic , Austria and Great Britain as he fractured his left collarbone in the warm up of the Czech Republic GP and the Aragon Grand Prix for a new fracture of the same bone remedied in free practice of the GP. In the Valencian Community Grand Prix he achieved his first podium in MotoGP, a third place. He closed the season in fourteenth place in the drivers' standings
2019
editEspargaró's season in 2019 did not build on the expectations created at the end of the 2018 season where he and KTM achieved their debut podium. He scored KTMs first dry front row start in Misano, and KTMs best dry result in Le Mans where he finished in 6th place, 5.9 seconds behind the race winner. Espargaró finished the 2019 season 11th in the standings with 100 points.
2020
editEspargaró finished the 2020 MotoGP season 5th in the standings level on points with Andrea Dovizoso, he made history by taking KTMs first pole position at the Styrian Grand Prix, another pole at the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix and a total of 5 podiums in the 2020 season. At the end of 2020 he left Redbull KTM for Repsol Honda.
Repsol Honda Team (2021–2022)
edit2021
edit
Espargaró made his Repsol Honda debut at the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, finishing 8th on the first of the two races and 12th on the latter. He took several points scoring finishes throughout the season, but the highlight was his 5th place finish from pole position at the 2021 British motorcycle Grand Prix. Espargaró ended the season 12th in the championship on 100 points.
2022
editEspargaró started the 2022 season with a 3rd place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix. However, from then on, due to various factors both in and out of his control, Espargaró's performances have resulted in few, and low-points scoring finishes.[9]
GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 (2023)
editAfter initial uncertainty,[10] Espargaró announced at the Austrian Grand Prix in August that he had signed a two-year deal with Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing, to be known as GasGas Factory Racing team from the 2023 season onwards - rejoined with Tech3 for the first time since 2016.[11] His seat at Repsol Honda was allocated to 2020 World Champion Joan Mir. The reported reason for this signing was Mir's younger age compared to that of Esparagaró.[12]
Espargaró received substantial injuries in a practice crash at the Portimão Circuit on the Friday before the initial race weekend of the 2023 season, and was unable to compete. He returned home to Spain after hospitalisation in Faro, Portugal.[13][14]
With a lengthy recovery time anticipated, the team nominated KTM employee Jonas Folger as replacement rider from the season third-round at the COTA race weekend on 15–16 April, and onwards as required.[15] Espargaró made his return at the British Grand Prix in August,[16] and late in the year confirmed he will be a test rider within the KTM organisation with the possibility of some wildcard races during 2024. His seat will be taken by Pedro Acosta.[1]
Career statistics
editGrand Prix motorcycle racing
editBy season
editBy class
edit| Class | Seasons | 1st GP | 1st Pod | 1st Win | Race | Win | Podiums | Pole | FLap | Pts | WChmp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125cc | 2006–2010 | 2006 Catalunya | 2007 Portugal | 2009 Indianapolis | 71 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 708.5 | 0 |
| Moto2 | 2011–2013 | 2011 Qatar | 2011 Indianapolis | 2012 Spain | 51 | 10 | 23 | 14 | 10 | 609 | 1 |
| MotoGP | 2014–present | 2014 Qatar | 2018 Valencia | 166 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 896 | 0 | |
| Total | 2006–present | 288 | 15 | 52 | 20 | 16 | 2213.5 | 1 | |||
Races by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Suzuka 8 Hours results
edit| Year | Team | Co-Riders | Bike | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 |  Yamaha Factory Racing Team | Katsuyuki Nakasuga Bradley Smith | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1st |
| 2016 | Yamaha Factory Racing Team | Katsuyuki Nakasuga Alex Lowes | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1st |
References
edit- ^ a b Espargaro admits Honda 2024 approach but will remain KTM MotoGP test rider Autosport, 11 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023
- ^ O'Leary, Jamie (27 October 2013). "Scott Redding crashes, Pol Espargaro takes title". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Espargaro wins to claim Moto2 world title". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Rossi Sets Pulses Racing in Estoril Thriller". superbike-news.co.uk. 16 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ "Faubel wins a thriller". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 16 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
- ^ Farni, Azi (2 August 2013). "Pol Espargaro to ride for Tech 3 after Yamaha deal". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ^ "Final 2015 MotoGP rider line-up". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ "Pol Espargaro to join KTM's MotoGP efforts". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "Pol Espargaro: 'Slow, struggling, everyone is smashing us'". Crash. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Barstow, Ollie (3 July 2022). "Tech 3 KTM to become GASGAS MotoGP, Pol Espargaro to return?". Visordown. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "MotoGP: Pol Espargaro signs two-year deal with re-branded Tech3 GasGas team". www.motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ ""Age a decisive factor" – Puig on factory seat choice". www.motogp.com. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Injured Pol Espargaro set for the sidelines but "he’ll come back to a normal life" www.crash.net, 25 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023
- ^ Tech3 won't replace injured Espargaro for next two MotoGP rounds Autosport, 25 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023
- ^ MotoGP: Jonas Folger set for return with GASGAS Tech3 as Pol Espargaro continues recovery Motorcycle News, 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023
- ^ 10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP British GP Autosport, 7 August 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023
External links
edit
- Pol Espargaró at MotoGP.com
- Pol Espargaró at AS.com (in Spanish)
- Official website
