Espargaro takes first ever podium after brilliant ride at home track

In an intense and eventful Moto2 race Aleix Espargaro has confirmed the great expectations he raised during the weekend, finishing with a very good third place, which besides being the first podium of the season for the Pons Racing team is also the first ever podium in the world championship for the rider from Granollers. Espargaró has been within reach of the victory at all times until in lap 16 crashes of Aegerter, Sofuoglu and Simon tore the group apart, leaving Simon injured by a dangerous maneuver of the Turkish rider. This has left Espargaró in third place, with few options to get to the second place, and on a track where the conditions have changed greatly from the practice yesterday after the rain in Catalunya. Anyway, the third position has been a great result for both the rider and the team.

And it would have been complete satisfaction had Axel Pons finished the race, who has managed to overcome the unfortunate Saturday. After a good start Pons got involved in the group that fought for fifth in the end, a fight that he left after a mistake which took him out of the race. Still, the young rider from Barcelona has shown progress and that he is able to get into the top ten.

The next round of the world championship is already next week, the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit.

#40. Aleix Espargaro: 3º
“I’m very happy. In fact, it is the happiest day of my life for sure, it has been a very nice weekend. I had some good practice sessions and yesterday I almost took the pole. And to finish on the podium was great, the last few laps were very long for me. I have to acknowledge all the people who helped me so far, my family, Joan Moreta and Angels Viladoms of the Federación Española. The race was very difficult from the beginning, Bradl and I could not get away from the group. It has become a large group, but then Sofuoglu made it easy… I do not know how you can ride like that, I’m sorry about what happened to Julio. I took third, I tried to see if I could get to second place, but it was impossible, so I decided to keep my position which was very good. My team did a great job and it shows I’m in the best Moto2 team. I have to thank them of course and Sito. We started on a difficult road to maintain, but it’s very nice.”

#80. Axel Pons: Crash
‘I had a very good start and from the beginning I knew that I had very good pace, although from the second lap I noticed that the bike has started to lose power, suddenly nothing worked. Each time I was more rushed on the brakes, and finally one time I went straight. I came back on track as the last of my group and then I made a mistake and I crashed out. I knew I could be with that group until the end, they fought for fifth place, and play my cards, but it wasn’t to be. Maybe I should have taken it more calmly, but here I’ve seen that we can be in front, it is a new starting point and it is where we must begin the next Grand Prix.”

Source: Pons Racing