Pol Espargaro is back on the track with the KTM, and he didn't go unnoticed at Misano on Friday. Third in the morning and thirteenth in the afternoon, he lapped with times that were very similar to those of the starters. Analyzing his day at the Simoncelli, the Spanish rider pointed out some critical issues that prevented him from better positioning himself.
"At the moment, it's very difficult to brake with the bike, because the front tire overheats and this increases the pressure. Consequently, we need to adopt another technique to slow it down. It's a problem we're working on, like on aerodynamics, electronics, and engine. Today, I ended within a tenth of Binder, which means I can be faster," Pol commented.
Analyzing the assault in the Q2, he then acknowledged that he wasn't perfect: "In the first attempt, I was too aggressive and, in the second, I reached the last corner a bit too fast, to the extent that I almost crashed. I would've potentially been in eighth place, but I made a mistake and, in the MotoGP right now, that's a luxury you can't afford. I'll try to get into the Q2 again tomorrow."
In this first part of the weekend, Acosta seemed particularly quick. "In Aragon, he was fast, but it's obvious that there could be complicated moments for him. He's a rookie, and it's normal for him to be like that. You can't expect him to be at the top all the time. There was a time when only four people could fight for the victory. Now, in addition to the eight Ducatis, there are other competitive bikes. Let's say he doesn't have an easy task. Our bike isn't at the level of the Desmosedici, so what Pedro is doing is impressive."
Francesco Guidotti would like to give the test rider's bike to the other riders as well. "We're working on different areas, and each new feature involves changes in the configuration. Monday's test will be important for the guys who'll be trying different things on the current RS-GP, including some that we brought here. Compared to theirs, mine has different set-ups, aerodynamics, and engine parameters, so their response will be crucial."
"Since when haven't I ridden their bike? A long time," the 33-year-old rider then revealed: "Along with Pedrosa, we have a different program than theirs. As far as I'm concerned, by being a wild card, it wouldn't make sense to use the same one, because our job is to find problems and solve them. Therefore, making a comparison isn't possible. I would've liked to have been present at the previous test here, but I couldn't. That said, I'll have to try to do my best in the upcoming days."