2023-10-06 19:56:40
2023 could be the last full-time season for Pol Espargaró in MotoGP after KTM confirmed this morning that Pedro Acosta will take his seat in the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 team next season, a box in which he will meet his former Moto2 teammate Augusto Fernández, renewed for another year by the Austrians.
Acosta’s promotion to the premier class within the ranks of the team led by Hervé Poncharal will leave Pol Espargaró without options to compete in 2024 on a regular basis, a withdrawal agreed between #44 and Pierer Mobility Groupthe parent company of KTM, in order to facilitate the arrival of younger riders into the ranks of the GASGAS team, the structure that, by concept, is intended to grow KTM riders in MotoGP.
The press release released by KTM did not completely clarify what Pol’s functions will be throughout 2024; On it, the Mattighofen mark indicated that #44 “He is an important asset in supporting young talent and maintaining the strength of the current competition structure, and his humility is evident in his willingness to help the next generation who hope to follow in his footsteps. Character, energy and skills of Pol mean that will remain a prominent member of the MotoGP program on both sides of the pit wall“.
Given the doubts that this news has generated and in response to the uncertainty about his role at KTM with a view to the next campaign, Pol has taken advantage of his social networks – something unusual for him – to offer his version of what happened these days and try to clarify what will become of him in 2024.
“As you already know, I am not a big fan of social media, but since I am receiving many messages of encouragement/support for the Pierer Mobility Group news release regarding our future, I wanted to clarify some things“, The statement from the Granollers pilot begins.
“First of all, thank you very much for all the messages, even so, I want to inform you that it was not a unilateral decision, on the contrary!“, Pol insists, making clear his willingness to give up the second year of the contract he had signed to facilitate the arrival of Pedro Acosta to MotoGP.
The youngest of the Espargaró family does not hide that “I would have liked to continue competing full time in MotoGP because I think I still have the speed to be among the best, but the truth is that the step to the side that I am going to take next year joining the testing team and making several wildcards “It is the result of an understanding between the two parties given the contractual problems in which the group finds itself at the moment, and thinking about a long-term collaboration to make the Pierer Mobility group the reference in the MotoGP world championship”, Pol Espargaró details that next year he will be seen in several races as a guest rider and also as the first substitute in the event of a loss due to injury in the KTM or GASGAS pits.
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Finally, some lines full of optimism and positivity from Pol Espargaró who, at 32 years old, could be completing his last season as a regular driver in the championship: “There are many races left this year and also in the future, and since I am one of those who think that there is strength in numbers, Let’s work together to achieve a memorable season finale.. Thank you so much!”.
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