Pol Espargaro knows that Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix represents one of his best chances ever of winning a MotoGP race, after qualifying on pole position for the very first time for both himself and KTM.
But, while he might have excellent race pace and a prime starting spot for Sunday’s 28-lap duel around KTM’s home Red Bull Ring track, Espargaro knows that it’s unlikely to be as simple as riding away from a hungry chasing pack.
Believing that he was in a stronger position last weekend until a red flag ended his chances, the KTM man says that the Styrian GP is more open and that anything could happen.
“After what happened the last two weekends and not being able to finish the races when I had a chance of winning was very frustrating, so to get the pole position here at home in Austria was very nice,” Espargaro said. “We’re just missing stands full of people and the energy of the orange army.
“Last weekend we had more of a chance to win the race and it was more achievable, as I showed a good performance in the race.
“This weekend is more difficult as Suzuki have made a big step forward and the rhythm of both riders is amazing.
“The Ducatis are fast too, and for sure [Takaaki] Nakagami isn’t going to make life easy for me either.
“We all have a similar pace, and last weekend I felt like I had something a little more. It’s going to be tough to win tomorrow, but whatever happens I want to cross the finish line.
“To do it fighting for the win would be amazing, but a podium for KTM at home for the first time would be something unbelievable as well.”
Last week’s winner Andrea Dovizioso is back in ninth, giving Espargaro a chance to make an early escape if he can capitalise on Dovizioso’s need to move through the pack.
“Being on pole is a small step, but it’s super important if we want to fight against the Ducatis and the Suzukis in the opening laps because they are super fast. Everything is set up for a nice Sunday race.”
Suzuki’s duo of Joan Mir and Alex Rins could well be Espargaro’s biggest threat though. Mir qualified fourth, but with a penalty for Johann Zarco he will step up to the front row, and, fresh from his first ever MotoGP podium last time out, he’ll be looking to go one better than last Sunday’s second.
“I feel especially strong this weekend – even more so than last weekend – and I feel like we can be fast tomorrow,” Mir said. “We’ve improved a little bit in sector two this weekend, and the grip from the tyre is better.
“It will be easier to fight with the others because we have a strong pace, so let’s see what happens.
“If we improve a little bit in some areas, it means we’ll have a little bit more to fight with. On paper, our pace is the best or one of the best, and I’m feeling consistent as well as fast.”
Mir likewise sees an opportunity to break Ducati’s stranglehold on the Red Bull Ring, a track where the Desmosedicis are undefeated since its return to the championship in 2016. Looking to capitalise on his qualifying, Mir admits that, like for Espargaro, making an early break for it will be key.
When asked by The Race how important it would be to avoid falling behind one of the Ducatis in light of how the Austrian GP played out, Mir said: “If you check the top speeds, we have to escape because our bike isn’t the fastest one.
“But the Ducatis having to start from further behind is an advantage for those of us who have good pace, like Pol, me, and a couple more.
“What they do is get to the front and they are fast but not the fastest, and that makes overtaking quite difficult. We have to try and avoid that and to have a more calm race where we push at our pace and not the pace of the Ducatis.”
