Pol Espargaró

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Espargaró and the second or maternal family name is Villà.

Pol Espargaró Villà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈpɔl əspəɾɣəˈɾo βiˈʎa]; born 10 June 1991) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer who for 2023 rode in the MotoGP class for the newly named GasGas Factory Racing team, a development of Tech3 using KTM machines, after which he will be a test rider within the KTM organisation. He previously spent two years with Repsol Honda Team.

Pol Espargaró
Espargaró in 2022
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1991-06-10) 10 June 1991 Granollers, Spain
Bike number	44
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2014–2024 Manufacturers Yamaha (2014–2016) KTM (2017–2020, 2023–2024) Honda (2021–2022) Championships 0 2023 championship position 23rd (15 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 169 0 8 3 1 908 Moto2 World Championship Active years 2011–2013 Manufacturers FTR (2011) Kalex (2012–2013) Championships 1 (2013) 2013 championship position 1st (265 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 51 10 23 14 10 609 125cc World Championship Active years 2006–2010 Manufacturers Derbi (2006, 2008–2010) Aprilia (2007) Championships 0 2010 championship position 3rd (281 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 71 5 21 3 5 708.5

Pol is the younger brother of fellow MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaró, and is best known for winning the 2013 Moto2 World Championship. This earned him a move to Monster Yamaha Tech3 in 2014, until 2017 where he signed for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and secured a maiden podium at the 2018 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix .

He won the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015 with Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga, and in 2016 with Nakasuga and Alex Lowes. He is the first rider to finish on the podium riding a KTM motorcycle in MotoGP.

Career

125cc World Championship

Youngest rider to score a championship point (2006)

Born in Granollers, Barcelona, Espargaró, arrived in the 125cc World Championship in 2006 participating in the last six races of the year. This rider from replaced the injured Andrea Iannone at Campetella Racing and made his debut on board a Derbi at the Czech Republic Grand Prix. Two months before, Espargaró had made history as a wildcard in the Catalan Grand Prix when he finished 13th to become the youngest ever point scorer in a Grand Prix at the age of just 15 years and 8 days. He ended the season winning five consecutive races in Spanish 125cc Championship to become champion, followed by a 6th-place finish at the Valencian Grand Prix.

First podium (2007)

In 2007, Espargaró aimed to further enhance the family reputation over a full season with Campetella Racing Junior Aprilia. The season start with two good results, a seventh in Qatar and fourth at Jerez, then a couple of Top 10s until the Catalan round where he finished fifth. Espargaró's turning point came in the Czech Republic where he finished in sixth place, before a top five in San Marino. The Portuguese race was the highlight point of his short career, claiming a third-place finish from seventh on the grid. Espargaró battled for the lead with Héctor Faubel and Gábor Talmácsi, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind Faubel, who won.

Return to Derbi (2008–2010)

Espargaró at the 2010 Dutch TT

Espargaró (left) at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix

After running last year on board an Aprilia RS125 in Belson Campetella, he switched the Aprilia for the Derbi, in this occasion an RSA and partnered by Joan Olivé. He ended up 9th in the championship, with 3 podiums and 2 poles.

Moto2 World Championship

Pons Racing (2011–2013)

2011

In 2011 he moved to Moto2 with the HP Tuenti Speed Up team with an FTR M211, obtaining second place in Indianapolis and third place in Malaysia and finishing the season in 13th place with 75 points.

2012

In 2012 he moved to the Pons 40 HP Tuenti team. He Came third in Qatar. He got his first win in the Moto2 class in Spain. In Portugal he came second. He won in Great Britain, He came second in Italy and Indianapolis and third in the Czech Republic after starting on all occasions from pole position. In the San Marino Grand Prix he came second. He Won in Aragon. In Japan he came second after starting from pole position. He Got pole position in Malaysia. He Won in Australia after starting from pole position. He Got another pole position in the Valencian grand Prix. He ended the season in 2nd place with 269 points.

2013

In 2013 he remained in the same team, obtaining six wins (Qatar, Catalonia, Netherlands, San Marino, Australia and Japan), a second place in Malaysia, two third places (Germany and Aragon) and six pole positions (Qatar, Catalonia, Netherlands, San Marino, Australia and the Valencian Community). He became the world champion with 265 points.

MotoGP World Championship

Monster Yamaha Tech3 (2014–2016)

2014

Espargaró at the 2014 French Grand Prix

In May 2013, rumours appeared linking Espargaró with the MotoGP Tech 3 satellite Yamaha racing team, to replace British rider Cal Crutchlow. After Crutchlow signed a two-year deal with the factory Ducati team, Espargaró signed a two-year deal with Yamaha, the first year of which would be with Tech 3. He got his first points in the premier class in the United States. His best result was a fourth place in France and he ended the season in 6th place with 136 points, also achieving Rookie of The Year and Top Independent Rider.

2015

Espargaró remained with Tech 3 into the 2015 season, finishing in ninth place in the final championship standings. In 2015 he also won the Suzuka 8 Hours , alternating with Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga driving the Yamaha YZF-R1. He thus becomes the second Spanish driver to win this race, after Carlos Checa.

2016

Espargaró again remained with Tech 3 into the 2016 season, he finished 8th in the standings with 134 points and his best finish of 4th came at the Dutch TT. At the end of 2016 Espargaro and Yamaha split.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2017–2020)

2017

Prior to the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, it was announced that Espargaró would join the factory-supported KTM team for the 2017 season. He partnered Bradley Smith in the team, with both riders moving across from the Tech 3 outfit. His best result is a ninth place in the Czech Republic. He ended the season in 17th place with 55 points.

2018

In 2018 he remained in the same team, obtaining a third place in the Valencian grand Prix and ending the season in 14th place with 51 points. This season he was forced to miss the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic , Austria and Great Britain as he fractured his left collarbone in the warm up of the Czech Republic GP and the Aragon Grand Prix for a new fracture of the same bone remedied in free practice of the GP. In the Valencian Community Grand Prix he achieved his first podium in MotoGP, a third place. He closed the season in fourteenth place in the drivers' standings

2019

Espargaró's season in 2019 did not build on the expectations created at the end of the 2018 season where he and KTM achieved their debut podium. He scored KTMs first dry front row start in Misano, and KTMs best dry result in Le Mans where he finished in 6th place, 5.9 seconds behind the race winner. Espargaró finished the 2019 season 11th in the standings with 100 points.

2020

Espargaró finished the 2020 MotoGP season 5th in the standings level on points with Andrea Dovizoso, he made history by taking KTMs first pole position at the Styrian Grand Prix, another pole at the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix and a total of 5 podiums in the 2020 season. At the end of 2020 he left Redbull KTM for Repsol Honda.

Repsol Honda Team (2021–2022)

2021

Espargaró at the 2022 British Grand Prix

Espargaró made his Repsol Honda debut at the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, finishing 8th on the first of the two races and 12th on the latter. He took several points scoring finishes throughout the season, but the highlight was his 5th place finish from pole position at the 2021 British motorcycle Grand Prix. Espargaró ended the season 12th in the championship on 100 points.

2022

Espargaró started the 2022 season with a 3rd place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix. However, from then on, due to various factors both in and out of his control, Espargaró's performances have resulted in few, and low-points scoring finishes.

GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 (2023)

After initial uncertainty, Espargaró announced at the Austrian Grand Prix in August that he had signed a two-year deal with Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing, to be known as GasGas Factory Racing team from the 2023 season onwards - rejoined with Tech3 for the first time since 2016. His seat at Repsol Honda was allocated to 2020 World Champion Joan Mir. The reported reason for this signing was Mir's younger age compared to that of Esparagaró.

Espargaró received substantial injuries in a practice crash at the Portimão Circuit on the Friday before the initial race weekend of the 2023 season, and was unable to compete. He returned home to Spain after hospitalisation in Faro, Portugal.

With a lengthy recovery time anticipated, the team nominated KTM employee Jonas Folger as replacement rider from the season third-round at the COTA race weekend on 15–16 April, and onwards as required. Espargaró made his return at the British Grand Prix in August, and late in the year confirmed he will be a test rider within the KTM organisation with the possibility of some wildcard races during 2024. His seat was taken by Pedro Acosta. In the Gran Premio d'Italia Brembo, he finished 17th on the main race. In the 2024 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix on the layer of the Red Bull Ring he manage to finish 9th of the sprint race. The following day, he finished 11th of the main race.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

Season	Class	Motorcycle	Team	Race	Win	Podium	Pole	FLap	Pts	Plcd	WCh
2006	125cc	Derbi	Campetella Racing Junior	7	0	0	0	0	19	20th	–
			RACC Derbi
2007	125cc	Aprilia	Belson Campetella Racing	17	0	1	0	0	110	9th	–
2008	125cc	Derbi	Belson Derbi	14	0	3	2	1	124	9th	–
2009	125cc	Derbi	Derbi Racing Team	16	2	5	1	1	174.5	4th	–
2010	125cc	Derbi	Derbi Tuenti Racing	17	3	12	0	3	281	3rd	–
2011	Moto2	FTR	HP Tuenti Speed Up	17	0	2	0	1	75	13th	–
2012	Moto2	Kalex	Pons 40 HP Tuenti	17	4	11	8	5	269	2nd	–
2013	Moto2	Kalex	Tuenti HP 40	17	6	10	6	4	265	1st	1
2014	MotoGP	Yamaha	Monster Yamaha Tech3	18	0	0	0	0	136	6th	–
2015	MotoGP	Yamaha	Monster Yamaha Tech3	18	0	0	0	0	114	9th	–
2016	MotoGP	Yamaha	Monster Yamaha Tech3	17	0	0	0	0	134	8th	–
2017	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	18	0	0	0	0	55	17th	–
2018	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	15	0	1	0	0	51	14th	–
2019	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	18	0	0	0	0	100	11th	–
2020	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	14	0	5	2	1	135	5th	–
2021	MotoGP	Honda	Repsol Honda Team	17	0	1	1	0	100	12th	–
2022	MotoGP	Honda	Repsol Honda Team	19	0	1	0	0	56	16th	–
2023	MotoGP	KTM	GasGas Factory Racing Tech3	12	0	0	0	0	15	23rd
2024	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	3	0	0	0	0	12*	22nd*	–
Total				291	15	52	20	16	2225.5		1

By class

Class	Seasons	1st GP	1st Pod	1st Win	Race	Win	Podiums	Pole	FLap	Pts	WChmp
125cc	2006–2010	2006 Catalunya	2007 Portugal	2009 Indianapolis	71	5	21	3	5	708.5	0
Moto2	2011–2013	2011 Qatar	2011 Indianapolis	2012 Spain	51	10	23	14	10	609	1
MotoGP	2014–present	2014 Qatar	2018 Valencia		169	0	8	3	1	908	0
Total	2006–present				291	15	52	20	16	2225.5	1

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Bike	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Pos	Pts
2006	125cc	Derbi	SPA	QAT	TUR	CHN	FRA	ITA	CAT 13	NED	GBR	GER	CZE Ret	MAL 14	AUS 16	JPN 19	POR 12	VAL 6					20th	19
2007	125cc	Aprilia	QAT 7	SPA 4	TUR 11	CHN 9	FRA 11	ITA 9	CAT 5	GBR Ret	NED 11	GER Ret	CZE 6	RSM 5	POR 3	JPN Ret	AUS 11	MAL Ret	VAL 10				9th	110
2008	125cc	Derbi	QAT 8	SPA 14	POR 13	CHN 4	FRA 4	ITA 3	CAT 2	GBR DNS	NED	GER 16	CZE 8	RSM Ret	INP 2	JPN Ret	AUS 5	MAL 6	VAL DNS				9th	124
2009	125cc	Derbi	QAT 4	JPN 3	SPA 7	FRA Ret	ITA 4	CAT Ret	NED 9	GER 5	GBR 10	CZE 5	INP 1	RSM Ret	POR 1	AUS 4	MAL 3	VAL 3					4th	174.5
2010	125cc	Derbi	QAT 4	SPA 1	FRA 1	ITA 3	GBR 2	NED 3	CAT 3	GER Ret	CZE 2	INP 3	RSM 6	ARA 1	JPN 4	MAL 2	AUS 2	POR 10	VAL 2				3rd	281
2011	Moto2	FTR	QAT 22	SPA 20	POR 6	FRA 13	CAT 16	GBR Ret	NED Ret	ITA 28	GER 13	CZE 16	INP 2	RSM 9	ARA 14	JPN 15	AUS 5	MAL 3	VAL 14				13th	75
2012	Moto2	Kalex	QAT 3	SPA 1	POR 2	FRA 6	CAT Ret	GBR 1	NED Ret	GER 4	ITA 2	INP 2	CZE 3	RSM 2	ARA 1	JPN 2	MAL 10	AUS 1	VAL 8				2nd	269
2013	Moto2	Kalex	QAT 1	AME Ret	SPA 3	FRA 19	ITA 4	CAT 1	NED 1	GER 3	INP 4	CZE 4	GBR 8	RSM 1	ARA 3	MAL 2	AUS 1	JPN 1	VAL 29				1st	265
2014	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT Ret	AME 6	ARG 8	SPA 9	FRA 4	ITA 5	CAT 7	NED Ret	GER 7	INP 5	CZE Ret	GBR 6	RSM 6	ARA 6	JPN 8	AUS Ret	MAL 6	VAL 6			6th	136
2015	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 9	AME Ret	ARG 8	SPA 5	FRA 7	ITA 6	CAT Ret	NED 5	GER 8	INP 7	CZE 8	GBR Ret	RSM Ret	ARA 9	JPN Ret	AUS 8	MAL 9	VAL 5			9th	114
2016	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 7	ARG 6	AME 7	SPA 8	FRA 5	ITA 15	CAT 5	NED 4	GER Ret	AUT 10	CZE 13	GBR DNS	RSM 9	ARA 8	JPN 6	AUS 5	MAL 9	VAL 6			8th	134
2017	MotoGP	KTM	QAT 16	ARG 14	AME Ret	SPA Ret	FRA 12	ITA Ret	CAT 18	NED 11	GER 13	CZE 9	AUT Ret	GBR 11	RSM 11	ARA 10	JPN 11	AUS 9	MAL 10	VAL Ret			17th	55
2018	MotoGP	KTM	QAT Ret	ARG 11	AME 13	SPA 11	FRA 11	ITA 11	CAT 11	NED 12	GER Ret	CZE DNS	AUT	GBR	RSM Ret	ARA DNS	THA 21	JPN 13	AUS Ret	MAL Ret	VAL 3		14th	51
2019	MotoGP	KTM	QAT 12	ARG 10	AME 8	SPA 13	FRA 6	ITA 9	CAT 7	NED 11	GER 12	CZE 11	AUT Ret	GBR 9	RSM 7	ARA DNS	THA 13	JPN 11	AUS 12	MAL 11	VAL 10		11th	100
2020	MotoGP	KTM	SPA 6	ANC 7	CZE Ret	AUT Ret	STY 3	RSM 10	EMI 3	CAT Ret	FRA 3	ARA 12	TER 4	EUR 3	VAL 3	POR 4							5th	135
2021	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 8	DOH 13	POR Ret	SPA 10	FRA 8	ITA 12	CAT Ret	GER 10	NED 10	STY 16	AUT 16	GBR 5	ARA 13	RSM 7	AME 10	EMI 2	ALR 6	VAL DNS			12th	100
2022	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 3	INA 12	ARG Ret	AME 13	POR 9	SPA 11	FRA 11	ITA Ret	CAT 17	GER Ret	NED DNS	GBR 14	AUT 16	RSM Ret	ARA 15	JPN 12	THA 14	AUS 11	MAL 14	VAL Ret	16th	56
2023	MotoGP	KTM	POR DNS	ARG	AME	SPA	FRA	ITA	GER	NED	GBR 12	AUT 166	CAT Ret	RSM Ret	IND 13	JPN 15	INA Ret	AUS 18	THA 18	MAL 15	QAT 18	VAL 14	23rd	15
2024	MotoGP	KTM	QAT	POR	AME	SPA	FRA	CAT	ITA 17	NED	GER	GBR	AUT 119	CAT	RSM 10	EMI	INA	JPN	AUS	THA	MAL	SLD	23rd*	12*

* Season still in progress.

Suzuka 8 Hours results

Year	Team	Co-Riders	Bike	Pos
2015	Yamaha Factory Racing Team	Katsuyuki Nakasuga Bradley Smith	Yamaha YZF-R1	1st
2016	Yamaha Factory Racing Team	Katsuyuki Nakasuga Alex Lowes	Yamaha YZF-R1	1st

External links

• Pol Espargaró at MotoGP.com
• Pol Espargaró at AS.com (in Spanish)
• Official website