Pol Espargaro releases statement on HRC move

Following the confirmation of Pol Espargaro’s switch from the factory KTM team to Honda Racing Corporation for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Spaniard has made his first statements on the move.

In a recent Instagram post, the 29-year-old Spaniard cited the great times he’s had with KTM and what he’s looking forward to with HRC and Repsol Honda.

"As you may already know, next year KTM and I will separate our paths after what will be the four most intense and beautiful years of my life. 

"Knowing that on many occasions we have had weaker weapons than the others, we have fought and persevered together, overcoming all the obstacles that a project as new as this has presented us. I have been surrounded by a technical and human team from out of this world, tireless fighters who have always given their all!

"In 2021 I am going to compete for the Repsol Honda Team and I am going to try to show what I am capable of achieving with the same effort and sacrifice, in a new stage of my life that promises to be even more intense. But (KTM and I) still have a whole season together in which, as always, I will try to be on the level that this great factory deserves!"

While he’s yet to race the KTM in 2020, Espargaro’s performance in this year’s truncated MotoGP season will be watched with interest, as last year was the Spaniard’s most consistent on the RC16 to date, with eight top-ten finishes and his best championship placing (eleventh) since joining the Austrian manufacturer in 2017.

MotoGP resumes at Jerez this weekend (18-19 July) in the first of back-to-back race weekends that will be held at the Spanish circuit.

Similar double-header race weekends will be held at Spielberg and Aragon as MotoGP runs a Europe-only calendar until mid-November.