Pol Espargaró retired from full-time MotoGP competition at the end of 2023 but remains involved in the premier class, making several wildcard appearances in 2024. With his extensive experience, having entered MotoGP in 2014, Espargaró has witnessed significant changes over the years.
The current Red Bull KTM test rider explained to Nico Abad that the aerodynamics of modern bikes significantly impact overtaking: ‘It’s much harder to overtake [compared to his first days in MotoGP] – not just because of the turbulence generated by the aerodynamics of the rider in front. All the wings are designed to create aerodynamic downforce, but also to generate turbulence so that the rider behind feels as uncomfortable as possible. Let’s say it’s a consequence’.
According to Espargaró, following another rider closely dramatically increases the pressure and temperature of the front tyre, creating difficulties: ‘What this mainly causes is an issue with the temperature and pressure of the front tyre. It’s a big problem when following another rider as you get closer. It’s like a rider recovering many positions, then catching up to someone and being unable to overtake quickly, even though they are lapping half a second faster. Probably, the pressure in the front tyre… I think no one can manage it, not even with different acceleration strategies, to keep the temperature much more stable and prevent the pressure from, for instance, rising from 1.7 to 2.1’.
While minor adjustments to tyre pressure are possible – in the range of about 0.05bar – this changes significantly in a race setting, as the Spaniard explained: ‘We need to understand that, in a race, when riding behind another rider, in the best-case scenario, the pressure goes from 1.7 to 2.1. So, while we’re used to minor adjustments of about 0.05 bar, in a race, it changes by 0.5. The difference the rider feels is huge, and that is one of the biggest issues – apart from penalties – for the show’.