Breaking news
MotoGP
Espargaro says Tech 3 “needs more support” from Yamaha
Tech 3 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaro has urged for the Japanese factory to offer more support to its satellite squad after a tough start to the season.
Jamie Klein
Edited: May 2, 2016, 5:27 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The French team, which runs year-old Yamaha M1 machines for Espargaro and Bradley Smith, has struggled for pace against its factory rivals so far in 2016, particularly in comparison to last year.
And although, Espargaro sits fifth in the points after the opening four races, largely by virtue of consistent finishing, he expressed his frustration at finishing 30 seconds down on race winner Valentino Rossi at Jerez.
He called on Yamaha to do more to help Tech 3 – particularly with regards to mastering the new-for-2016 control electronic software – and ensure it remains satellite team to beat.
“With these electronics you need more people, and with the tyre you need to adjust the bike in a different way,” said Espargaro. “And we cannot have 20 electronics guys.
“Then the factory bikes are much faster than before, so the satellite teams are much more f**ked than before.
“When the tyres are used, the track temperature is high and the grip is low, you need an amazingly good bike and an amazingly good setting.
“We need more support, because I was 30 seconds off Valentino [at the finish at Jerez]. It’s unbelievable.”
Asked by Motorsport.com if the situation was doubly frustrating because of his status as an official Yamaha-contracted rider, Espargaro replied: “A little bit… but what can you do? I can’t steal the [factory] bikes!
“I understand their job is to focus on the factory bikes, put them where they finished [at Jerez] – first and second.
“It’s good to see [Yamaha] first and second and top satellite. But we are suffering a lot to be the first satellite, against Ducati for example. We need more support.”
“Not the best way to be fifth”
Espargaro also admitted that his championship placing of fifth was not an accurate reflection of Tech 3’s pace, and said he would rather be further down the order having showed more speed.
“Our priority right now is don’t crash, finish the races,” he said. “When some riders overtake me at the beginning of the race, I tell myself ‘[be] patient’.
“Maybe we’re not amazingly fast but we are consistent, and for that reason we are fifth in the championship.
“But this is not the best way to be fifth in the championship – I’d rather be seventh but with much better performance on track.”
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 MotoGP delays addition of extra team to fill 24th grid slot
Next article Analysis: How Honda got the upper hand over Marquez
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'
More from
Tech 3
Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”
Tech3 KTM confirms Maverick Vinales’ comeback for Japanese GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Tech3 KTM confirms Maverick Vinales’ comeback for Japanese GP
Maverick Vinales to make MotoGP return in post-Austrian GP Pirelli test
MotoGP
MotoGP
Maverick Vinales to make MotoGP return in post-Austrian GP Pirelli test
Latest news
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 40 min
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
Portimão
1 h
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
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