Pol Espargaro has mirrored on his MotoGP race profession winding down, admitting he can’t match Pedro Acosta’s “hearth”.
KTM opted to axe the veteran Espargaro a 12 months in the past, demoting him to a check and reserve position to create space for Acosta.
Acosta shone in his rookie 12 months and, in 2025, can be promoted to the manufacturing unit KTM workforce, vindicating their resolution to exchange Espargaro.
Espargaro, aged 33, raced 3 times as a wild card this season, and remains to be a KTM check rider, juggling a broadcaster position on Spanish tv.
“I reached a spot, a second in my life, the place I’m comfy,” he mentioned.
“I nonetheless keep bodily superb, however in a manner which I get pleasure from.
“I discuss on the TV explaining to individuals what is going on, as a result of these bikes are difficult with aerodynamics and electronics.
“With the check workforce, I hear what they are saying. I’m having fun with my life now.
“I missed it. It’s a tremendous feeling particularly whenever you carry out with an excellent consequence.
“Ending tenth in San Marino this 12 months, after a loopy race with rain? The sensation of ending high 10 in MotoGP when the extent is so excessive…
“I’ll all the time miss it, even when I’m 60 or 70 years outdated.
“However you might want to perceive the place your degree is. My degree of fireside on the bike just isn’t the identical, for instance, as Brad Binder or Maverick Vinales or Pedro Acosta.
“The vitality that the younger guys carry is insane!
“It’s essential step apart, allow them to go into the manufacturing unit, as a result of they are going to carry out higher than you.”
Espargaro crashed closely on the opening spherical of 2023, struggling horrible again and jaw accidents.
“After the crash, I realised it wasn’t nearly myself anymore,” he mentioned.
“I’ve two daughters and a spouse. To be at residence, and you may’t catch your daughter as a result of you will have ache in your again or arms, that was painful.
“I left an area to Pedro and look what he’s doing! He’s wonderful.”
KTM welcome ‘opposites’
In 2025, Espargaro can be essential to the event of the KTM.
The producer is welcoming Vinales and Enea Bastianini into their new-look Tech3 workforce.
“Maverick, we all know, is a passionate rider. He’s tremendous on the restrict,” Espargaro mentioned.
“He wants to essentially really feel it, to make it.
“Enea is totally the alternative. He’s extra flat, extra managed, you by no means know what is going to occur.
“It’s good to work with these two characters. They’ve expertise.
“Maverick has received with each bike he’s been on in MotoGP, hopefully that is the subsequent step to struggle for the title with a KTM.
“Enea carried out very nicely prior to now two years, wonderful on Saturdays and Sundays.
“They’re tremendous completely different, coming from completely different bikes. Two Italian bikes.
“There are execs and cons – let’s attempt to enhance the cons, and hold the professionals.”