KOMPAS.com – Red Bull KTM Factory racer, Pol Espargaro, was heartbroken because he had been tricked by Yamaha to become a replacement racer for Valentino Rossi.
That moment occurred when Pol Espargaro strengthened the Yamaha Tech 3 satellite team in his debut season in MotoGP, 2014.
Pol Espargaro at that time became one of the riders highlighted because of his promotion to MotoGP with the status of the 2013 Moto2 world champion.
In the middle of the 2014 season, Pol Espargaro received an offer to join the factory team, Suzuki Ecstar.
Suzuki Ecstar at that time was looking for two new riders for the 2015 MotoGP season after returning from a four-year vacuum.
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Pol Espargaro at that time was interested in the Suzuki Ecstar offer because he wanted to experience being a factory team racer.
Pol Espargaro then met Yamaha’s Managing Director, Lin Jarvis, to discuss his desire to move to the Suzuki Ecstar.
After meeting Lin Jarvis, Pol Espargaro decided to stay at Yamaha Tech 3.
Pol Espargaro dared to turn down Suzuki Ecstar’s offer because he was lulled by Lin Jarvis’ sweet promise.
At that time, Lin Jarvis promised to make Pol Espargaro a Movistar Yamaha racer to replace Valentino Rossi, who is rumored to be retiring.
Failing to get Pol Espargaro, Suzuki Ecstar eventually signed Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales in 2015.
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Until the end of 2016, Lin Jarvis still could not keep his promise to Pol Espargaro because Rossi had not shown any signs of retiring.
Pol Espargaro actually had the opportunity to become a Movistar Yamaha racer when Jorge Lorenzo decided to move to Ducati in the 2017 season.
However, Pol Espargaro’s dream of strengthening the factory team failed again because Movistar Yamaha chose Vinales to replace Lorenzo.
Disappointed with Yamaha, Pol Espargaro finally decided to move to Red Bull KTM Factory in 2017 and has remained until now.
Recalling the moment he canceled becoming a Movistar Yamaha racer, Pol Espargaro admitted that he was still hurt until now.
“At that time (2014) I received an offer to move to the Suzuki Ecstar with the same contract value as my brother (Aleix Espargaro)” said Pol Espargaro as quoted from the website. Tuttomotoriweb, Tuesday (22/9/2020).
“I then spoke with Lin Jarvis. He asked me to stay in the satellite team because Valentino Rossi will retire and Yamaha needs young riders,” said Pol Espargaro.
“However, Lin Jarvis denied the agreement during a press conference. It hurts me,” added Lin Jarvis.
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Pol Espargaro still remembers the moment of failure to become a racer for a factory Yamaha team.
That memory made Pol Espargaro immediately accepted the Red Bull KTM Factory offer in 2017 because he didn’t want to lose any more opportunities to strengthen the factory team.
A similar reason was also the basis for Pol Espargaro’s decision when he signed a cooperation contract with Repsol Honda in mid-July 2020.
Pol Espagaro will start the 2021 season as a Repsol Honda racer and partner Marc Marquez for two years.
“I promised myself that I would not think twice when there was an offer from the factory team,” said Pol Espargaro, recalling the moment he failed to become a Suzuki and Yamaha racer.
“When making decisions, you must think about your best. I am sure that it will be better with Repsol Honda,” said Pol Espargaro.
“I definitely need time to adapt. When at KTM, I initially failed. After four years, I can now reach the podium,” said Pol Espargaro.
“I think I will also be successful with Repsol Honda,” said Pol Espargaro.
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This season, Pol Espargaro has provided two podiums for KTM when he finished third in the Styria MotoGP race and the Emilia Romagna MotoGP.
This achievement has made Pol Espargaro now ranked 10th in the riders’ standings with a collection of 57 points.
Furthermore, Pol Espagaro and other riders will prepare for the eighth series, the Catalunya MotoGP, Sunday (27/9/2020).
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