Espargaro: New bike 'not as hard to ride', fight with Marc 'will be great'

Pol Espargaro is convinced his Qatar MotoGP podium is a sign of results to come thanks to Honda’s revolutionised RC213V machine, a bike he says has been changed from 'bottom to the top'.

One of the keys to his winter testing and opening round performance at Lusail, was Espargaro’s ability to ride the bike the way he wants, which includes steering the bike with the rear brake. 

In fact, it’s one of the few areas where Marc Marquez has struggled to match Espargaro, who was unable to showcase such style for much of the 2021 season. 

But with the 2022 bike being much easier to ride for all Honda riders due significant changes with its aero package, fairing, chassis and engine, therefore one that is not built solely around the eight-time world champion, Espargaro believes Honda has challengers for regular podiums on more than one front, which 'is something great for Honda'.  

Speaking after his third place in Qatar, Espargaro added: "Well, I’m glad that finally it’s not just Marc fighting for the podium with Honda. This is something great for Honda. 

"In general Honda has been working so hard this winter. They have changed the bike from the bottom to the top to try to achieve the group goals which I think is best to keep improving everyone. 

"Finally, I’m here! It means the bike is not as hard to ride as last year and we can be fast enough to fight for the podium. This is a place where normally I struggled a lot and also the bike is not the best one here, with long corners, fast ones and the grip is not amazing. 

"So I want to see myself with Honda in a place where grip is high and I can use my riding style with the rear brake. 

"I think both of us; Marc and myself, we can fight for the podium like the old times, with the same bike, this will be great."