Espargaro “super nervous” ahead of first Honda MotoGP test
Pol Espargaro reckons he’ll be “super nervous” ahead of his first test on the Honda MotoGP bike as it’s a moment he has always “been trying to imagine”.
The 2013 Moto2 world champion joins the factory Honda squad for 2021 following a four-year stint with KTM from 2017-2020, during which time he scored six podiums.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing November’s traditional post-season tests to be scrapped, Espargaro hasn’t ridden the RC213V yet and won’t until March’s Qatar test following the cancellation of the Sepang outing in February.
In an interview released by Honda following the release of the first images of him as an HRC rider, Espargaro couldn’t hide his excitement to ride the RC213V for the first time.
“I can already tell I am going to be nervous, super nervous, shaking and I don’t think I will sleep the day before,” he said when asked what his first Honda test will be like.
“This is a chapter in my life that I have always been trying to imagine.
“I am really looking forward to the moment I get on the bike for the first time, I think it’s a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life and I really want to enjoy it.”
Espargaro will partner six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez at Honda, though its unclear when the latter will be back in action as he continues recovery from an arm operation in December.
Both riders enjoyed a strong rivalry in the lower categories of the world championship, with Espargaro admitting partnering Marquez was a major motivating factor in his decision to join Honda.
“To share the team with Marc, I think it was another reason I wanted to come into the Repsol Honda Team,” he added.
“I have been fighting with Marc in the smaller categories for many years and I had so much fun, I’ve grown with him by fighting race-by-race and this makes me the rider I am today.
“When you fight against one of the greatest riders in the world you tend to improve much faster.
“The best way to improve yourself is to be beside the guy who is the same, or even better, than you.
“So that’s why I moved, I want to see my level compared to Marc who is for sure one of the best on the grid.”
Related video
Previous article
Podcast: How will Suzuki move on from Brivio's exit?
Next article
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Pol Espargaro |
| Teams | Repsol Honda Team |
| Author | Lewis Duncan |
Marc Marquez sensational comeback
Motorsport.tv Live: Portuguese MotoGP
Marc Marquez is back
MotoGP Starting Grid: Portugal Grand Prix
What does Marc Marquez have to do to get back to his best?
Following his resounding MotoGP return with a seventh place finish in Portugal, Marc Marquez now must work to rediscover his best form before turning his attention towards results-based targets
How Yamaha's rookie-spec MotoGP star is taking charge
Fabio Quartararo is on a roll in 2021 after storming to victory at a venue five months earlier served up one of his worst races. Contrasting Portuguese GPs for Yamaha's factory duo make it hard to understand just how good its 2021 MotoGP bike is, but the Portimao weekend did at least expose one key improvement compared to 2020
The hurdles Marquez faces next in his Portugal MotoGP return
Even by Marc Marquez’s own high standards, his MotoGP comeback on Friday at the Portuguese Grand Prix will be considered a success even if he didn’t top the times. But having shown competitive pace on his first day back, both Marquez and his rivals know plenty more challenges are to come...
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice.
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon Prime series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
