Espargaro back on the podium, Rabat in the top ten, Pons takes first point of the season
Photo Copyright Simona Vogel for Vroom Media
This seventh podium of the season, the third consecutive for the Pons 40 HP Tuenti rider, confirms his second place in the championship, now 48 points behind the leader.
Tito Rabat went from less to more and made up seven places on his grid position to finish among the top ten, while Axel Pons achieved his best result of the season and scored his first point of the year.
3. POL ESPARGARÓ “It’s been a difficult race in which we weren’t able to ride like in the practice which was the main reason I wasn’t able to get the victory which looked possible after dominantly being the fastest on Saturday. In the race I couldn’t get in front and push, in the acceleration I was behind and in braking I wasn’t close enough to overtake. It was a shame, because I wanted to win and the championship gap to the leader has grown. From now on we have to keep working hard and focus on winning races. The weekend went well, but it lacked the reward of first position to be able to say it was excellent. I lost a position to Iannone for passing under a yellow flag which I didn’t see, it wasn’t decisive although I lost the concentration a little seeing the message on the pitboard and it was a lot of work which got a little harder then. Now I’ll recover my strength and think about the next race in Misano.”
10. TITO RABAT “At the beginning I struggled to find my rhythm, because I had a lot of bumping on the front and couldn’t enter the corners with confidence. I think the bike was set up up very soft, but little by little it went better and I started to improve my laptimes and recover positions. We finished two races in the top ten and I think it’s a good step to improve the confidence and be further ahead in the next rounds.”
15. AXEL PONS “It was a positive weekend, but despite this the final result is below my expectations. I got my first point of the season and I’m happy, but at the same time I think if the bike had been running just a little bit better I could have finished further up. The team did a great job and the setup of the chassis is perfect, but I struggle a lot to overtake at a track with this much acceleration and such a long uphill section. We will keep working and I hope to remain in the points in the next races.”
Source: Pons Racing Press Release
