Disappointing day for Pons and Espargaro, crashing out of home race

As anticipated by the weather forecast the rain played a big role in the races at the Grand Prix of Spain, held on Sunday at the Jerez circuit.
Aleix Espargaro, who started with aspirations of getting among the front runners of the class, couldn’t find a good setting for the wet conditions which kept him from riding comfortably at any point during the race. Trying to force it to stay within the fight for the top ten, Espargaró crashed and despite being able to get back on track he could only finish in 24th place.

Axel Pons on the other hand had to take the consequences of a bad maneuver from one of his rivals when a collision ended his race already in the first lap. Pons already managed to move up four positions in these early stages of the race, giving him great options for the rest of it, especially after a good warm up.

Following the delay of the Japanese Grand Prix, the championship now has a month-long break, returning at May 1st for the race at Estoril.

#40. Aleix Espargaró: 24º
“This was a pretty bad race. From the first moment on I was not comfortable with the bike, I’m not happy at all. We couldn’t find a good setting, the front always closed the direction and I could not ride well from the first round on. When I tried to push a little more than normal the front folded and I crashed. Every time I pushed the front closed and I could not go faster. In Portugal we rode in the wet and everything went very well and here we must have done something wrong and couldn’t ride.”

#80. Axel Pons: Crash
“The start was not bad at all, even though I lost some positions, but in no time I had recovered again, passing four riders. When I was entering Dry Sack Forés went straight, breaking excessively and when I was entering the corner he touched my front wheel and I crashed. I tried to continue but the handlebar was completely twisted, so I had to retire. It was a bit disappointing because the warm up in the wet went well, I felt comfortable and I could have done a good race. I hate the fact that it’s a month until the next race, because I want to make up for this. I’m looking forward to Portugal.”

Source: Pons Racing