Pol Espargaro Feels Better After Race

After a long break from the races, Pol Espargaro stated that he felt better during the races. Serving as an KTM test rider, Espargaro last raced for injured Maverick Vinales, and at the Aragon Grand Prix, he competed against experienced KTM riders Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini.

Changes in Espargaro's Performance

Pol Espargaro expressed that he felt better during the races after the Aragon Grand Prix. Espargaro assessed the gap behind his teammates as an important measure, saying, "I reduced the gap over my teammates—not over Pedro. I think he will gain larger gaps in every race."

Espargaro spoke about the difficulties of adapting to changing track conditions and changing track conditions during the races. He stated that he struggled, especially when electronics and tires put intense pressure on the bike, and that he couldn't know how the bike would adapt to major changes. He emphasized that a new rider must know what the bike will do and what it will be. "You have to know what it will do and what it will be. I am discovering this like a rookie right now." At the same time, Espargaro reported making progress, saying, "I feel great. I have the feeling that I am faster than ever."

Competition within the KTM Team and the Influence of Pedro Acosta

Parallel to Espargaro's development, Pedro Acosta of the KTM team also attracted attention. The 22-year-old Acosta showed an impressive performance with the RC16 engine to experienced test riders. Acosta securing second place in the last race and falling behind some top Aprilia riders showed that the bike worked for Pedro.

Espargaro stated that Acosta's performance gave the team positive energy. "This shows that Pedro completely controls the bike. He does much more than the bike can actually do." Furthermore, the results of KTM riders Binder and Bastianini also gave positive signals. Espargaro analyzed that Binder and Bastianini's races were not bad, finishing with a gap of about 25 seconds. He noted that this showed that the RC16 engine was more competitive than initially seen in Aragon. "This is not too bad. This shows that the bike is not bad here. It gives us a lot of energy for the next races."

Future Schedule and Engine Development

Pol Espargaro has a busy schedule ahead of him. Between the races following Aragon, he will test at Mugello and then continue directly. Espargaro will also conduct new development work on the 850cc KTM bike with the prototype engine developed for 2027. Espargaro, who still experiences a lack of mileage with the new bike, emphasized, "I have laps, I need more races. I need to train and get back to speed." During this process, Espargaro constantly switching between the current 1000cc RC16 and the 2027 prototype became part of his daily routine.

Statistics

• Brad Binder races in 6th place with 13 points in the 2026 MOTOGP season (Red Bull KTM).
• Aragon GP: 5.08 km long, lap record 1:46.069.
• Archive: Pol Espargaro will be on track instead of Vinales at Misano (September 4, 2026)