Vinales’ replacement Espargaro: “Maverick is much better than he’s shown”

The news that Pol Espargaro was to replace Tech3’s regular rider, Maverick Viñales, came at short notice: “It all started last week; I got a few calls from Pit Beirer and Aki Ajo, and eventually we found out that Maverick wasn’t ready to race here at Silverstone. So they asked me if I could ride,” said Pol Espargaro.

The journey to the UK was a stressful one for the 35-year-old: on Wednesday he was still testing the future 850cc KTM with Pirelli tyres at Mugello, landed in England in the middle of the night on Thursday and was in the paddock at dawn. “It’s always nice to come back because I love racing. But when I do come back, it’s always because someone’s been injured – and that’s not nice.”

From 63 degrees track temperature at Mugello to British chill

From a sporting perspective, the test rider is preparing for a cold start. The injury he sustained in May is no longer an issue: “I don’t yet have full mobility in my hand, but I’ve tested the 850, which is significantly slower than the 1000, and that feels good.” He takes a more critical view of the abrupt changes in conditions: “I’m coming from Mugello, where it was nearly 40 degrees, with the tarmac at 63 degrees. At Silverstone, the temperatures are significantly lower, and on top of that I’m riding on Michelin tyres. It’s a completely different scenario.”

His aim for the start of practice is therefore modest and focused on conserving spare parts: “Especially in FP1, you can make mistakes early on if you push too hard. I don’t want that for the team or for myself. First of all, I need to stay calm and then slowly build up my confidence.”

Sympathy for Maverick Viñales – the injury threw him completely off course

Espargaro spoke empathetically about his compatriot’s situation, as he knows it from his own experience. “I’ve been in his position and came back even though I knew I wasn’t 100 per cent fit. I was physically very weak and tried to perform, but I knew it wasn’t going to work. Riders always try their best, and I think Maverick is really trying.” The dilemma is a different one: “If you’re absent, nobody sees you and you lose your place. If you come back injured, you get poor results – and then nobody wants you. There’s no happy ending there.”

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His verdict on the Tech3 rider was clear: “I’m 100 per cent certain that Maverick is vastly better than what he’s shown in recent races. He’s been struggling since his injury last year, and he’s miles away from what he’s capable of.”