MotoGP Gossip: Pol Espargaro set for Honda exit, Joan Mir to replace him?

[weeksy]

Pol Espargaro set to leave Repsol Honda at the end of the current MotoGP campaign after allegedly being informed that his 2023 option will not be exercised?

Update: In response to today's rumours over Pol Espargaro's future, Repsol Honda insists no decision has yet been made.

The Spaniard made a great start to the year as he battled for victory in Qatar - this came after a very strong pre-season where he finished fastest in Mandalika - but Espargaro has since looked closer to last year’s MotoGP performances.

Espargaro’s best result over the last five races is a ninth which came in Portimao, while team-mate Marc Marquez has been much closer to the podium, as highlighted by his fourth place finish in Jerez

Espargaro joined HRC for the start of 2021, and although there have been glimpses of the form he showed with much more regularity at KTM, consistency has been a big issue during his time with the Japanese manufacturer.

Granted, Honda are known to have a very difficult motorcycle to ride, but that’s unlikely to be of any comfort to the team as Espargaro appears more and more likely to lose his factory ride for 2023.

The former Moto2 world champion currently has a 2023 option with Honda, however, Gazzetta dello Sport are claiming it won’t be renewed and that instead Joan Mir could be joining Marquez for next season.

[lostboy]

Lucked into a Moto2 Championship when Scott broke his wrist, an otherwise unspectacular career. There are plenty of younger riders with better careers either already around (eg. Mir) or going to be around very soon (eg. Acosta) so it's hardly a surprise that he's being shuffled along.

[the_priest]

There is a generation of riders who need to make way for the new boys on the block.

[Skub]

As ever the Honda is a poisoned chalice. Pol has an aggressive riding style and on paper looked to be the kind of rider that would suit the Honda,but yet....

I greatly admire any of the current crop of riders,old or new,who can look at what the bike has done to Marquez and tell themselves they'll tame it and get winning results.

I have my doubts Mir will be the one.

The Honda is where Ducati were a few seasons ago,a career ending bike.

[weeksy]

The weird thing is, they're all crap in their own way and on the bad days.

The Yamaha is dog slow, the Aprilia (until recently) eats rubber, the KTM isn't quite good enough, the Ducati is a bit crashy and inconsistent, the Suzuki is consistently mediocre.

[lostboy]

As ever the Honda is a poisoned chalice. Pol has an aggressive riding style and on paper looked to be the kind of rider that would suit the Honda,but yet....

I greatly admire any of the current crop of riders,old or new,who can look at what the bike has done to Marquez and tell themselves they'll tame it and get winning results.

I have my doubts Mir will be the one.

The Honda is where Ducati were a few seasons ago,a career ending bike.

The same could be said for the Yamaha for everyone except Fab. It's been a very long time since the 1-2 days of Lorenzo and Rossi (2015) and it saw off Vinales and Rossi who couldn't make it work - as could no one else until Quatararo rolled into the pit and won their first title for 6 years. It's going to see off Morbidelli - who was sublime on the "non factory" version and finish (rightly) D Binder's career in MotoGP before it starts and stick an ignominious nail in Dovi's.

For all of Weeksy's "Suzuki are consistently mediocre" comments they've also been consistently 3rd in the Constructor's championship - pushing Yamaha, who have four bikes and ahead of Honda and KTM who also have four machines.

[Skub]

All very good points indeed. Funny how we don't see obvious stuff until it's pointed out.

[Yorick]

Unless younger Marquez has some influence with Honda from his brother, there may be 3 spare Hondas.

[weeksy]

Looks like according to Pol he's deffo on his way out and talking to different teams and manufacturers....

I assume that's mostly Aprilia then