Interview
MotoGP Argentinian GP
Angry Espargaro says pitstops gave Ducati unfair advantage
Pol Espargaro was left fuming with MotoGP organisers’ decision to mandate a pitstop in the Argentinian GP, as he feels this gave his Ducati rivals a major advantage.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Apr 5, 2016, 11:02 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Spaniard was locked in a three-way battle with satellite Ducati riders Eugene Laverty and Hector Barbera late on in the shortened Termas de Rio Hondo race, eventually finishing behind the duo in sixth.
Scott Redding’s rear tyre delamination in Saturday’s final practice session started a sequence of events that led to the introduction of a mandatory bike swap mid-race for safety reasons.
And Espargaro is adamant this loaded the dice in favour of the Ducati runners, who he says could therefore run using more power than if they had had to nurse their tyres to the end of the race.
"It's true that we were running further behind than where we should, but others are ahead of where they should be too,” Espargaro told Motorsport.com.
“Under normal circumstances, Barbera and Laverty would not have been up there because they would have destroyed their tyres like they always do.
"It was a race made for Ducati. After 10 laps they could do a reset [swapping bikes], put on new tyres and have all the power again. That allowed them to brake later and accelerate before me again.”
Read Also:
- Argentina MotoGP: Motorsport.com's rider ratings
Redding’s tyre failure was similar to that which afflicted Loris Baz’s Avintia Ducati in Sepang testing, and Espargaro believes problems with the rear Michelin are a unique Ducati phenomenon.
"We are blaming Michelin [for the failures], but they are doing a great job with all the other manufacturers,” added the Tech 3 rider.
“Ducati has more power than the rest and they know how to use it, and that's why their tyres are exploding."
Interview by Oriol Puigdemont
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Crutchlow: "No excuses" for crashing twice in Argentina
Next article Ducati tells Iannone to “curb his enthusiasm” after last-corner crash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Pol Espargaro
Pedro Acosta backed to win KTM’s home MotoGP race - “if there’s a place, it’s here”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Austrian GP
Pedro Acosta backed to win KTM’s home MotoGP race - “if there’s a place, it’s here”
Tech3 confirms Pol Espargaro for Austrian GP as Vinales' replacement
MotoGP
MotoGP
Austrian GP
Tech3 confirms Pol Espargaro for Austrian GP as Vinales' replacement
Pol Espargaro warns 'MotoGP riders not aware of the change coming with 2027 tyres'
MotoGP
MotoGP
Pol Espargaro warns 'MotoGP riders not aware of the change coming with 2027 tyres'
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 3 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe