Pol Espargaró did not have a place in the MotoGP paddock in 2024, after being the “sacrificed” by the Pierer Mobility Group. With five riders for four bikes, the Austrians tried to expand their contingent, but ran into a “no” from Dorna.
The Spanish rider was asked whether the promoting entity has any responsibility in his future, by not meeting KTM’s aspirations to put more bikes on the grid? In response, he stated: ‘I understand that the Pierer Mobility Group wants to put more bikes on the track, but it’s not that easy. You can’t expect to have everything you want. There is a process and you need to go through the process. The championship surely… from my personal point of view, it is certain that the Pierer Mobility Group deserves more spots in the category, but not because I say so, it’s because there is another manufacturer that has eight bikes on track – which is actually the best manufacturer at the moment. And I think it’s because of those eight bikes on track. And it’s not fair either for the other manufacturers and for the other riders, because in reality the championship would change a lot if some of the Ducati riders were on another bike‘.
Although he believes that KTM could have more bikes, Espargaró also showed understanding towards the MotoGP organization: ‘Therefore, thinking about it, I believe that if the Pierer Mobility Group had another spot it would be fair. But I understand that from the championship’s point of view they don’t want to allow any other manufacturer to be in the position that Ducati is in now because they have an advantage. I also believe that it’s fair‘.
