Pol Espargaro shares the ‘fears’ he had about returning to MotoGP with KTM

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Pol Espargaro has arguably been the most successful stand-in MotoGP rider this season and has made a real contribution for KTM and Tech3.

Replacing Maverick Vinales was always going to be a hard task, given how quick he had been throughout the first half of the 2025 MotoGP campaign. But, in the races that Espargaro has been called upon (five), he has finished in the top 10 every time he has reached the finish line.

He looks set to continue in his test rider role with Tech3 for 2026, but KTM will be pleased with what he has produced. One look at Lorenzo Savadori on the Aprilia or Michele Pirro on the Ducati shows how hard it is to turn up and be quick immediately.

Brad Binder came close to a Tech3 demotion before Vinales’ brutal injury, which has now seen him miss all but three races since the end of June. He’ll be back for the season finale in Valencia, which is a shame for Espargaro.

Enea Bastianini faces a ‘brutal’ issue at Tech3, and it’s something that his experienced and deputised teammate may have been able to help with lately. It’s a big help to have someone like Pol around.

READ MORE: Pol Espargaro ‘convinced’ that ‘wild’ MotoGP rider could fight Marc Marquez every weekend on a Ducati

Pol Espargaro feared battling with his MotoGP rivals before Tech3 return

Espargaro thinks KTM could convince Pedro Acosta to stay, but that it will require a strong round of upgrades to take effect in the future. Their bike has improved a great deal throughout the season and is starting to show some promise.

That’s why the manufacturer has picked up podiums in the second half of 2025, and has Acosta positioned to claim a spot in the top four of the riders’ standings.

The MotoGP rider market is expected to be incredibly active next year, meaning that keeping hold of their superstar rider will be difficult. Fortunately, there will be a lot of other free agents to explore.

Espargaro has now admitted that he has a ‘good relationship’ with everyone on the grid, but that he had ‘fears’ about his return before getting back on a bike.

“That was one of my fears,” he told Diario AS. “Yesterday I had a hard fight with Marini, but it was clean. And today with Morbidelli, who has entered like an elephant in a pottery store in turn 5.

“But no, I have a good relationship with everyone, it’s a pleasure and that’s how I live it and I think I show it to them, that they let me be part of this when I come and go, that for them it doesn’t have to be pleasant to see an outsider who has nothing to lose playing it there with them, so I’m super grateful.”

READ MORE: Pol Espargaro says MotoGP riders have started taking pay cuts after what they’ve seen at Ducati

When was the last time that Pol Espargaro was a full-time MotoGP rider?

The last time Espargaro had to go through a full season was all the way back in 2022 with Honda. Despite finishing 16th, he did manage a podium at the first race in Qatar.

Having been a part of three separate manufacturers, similar to Pramac’s Jack Miller, he brings a diverse range of experience.

It’s all stuff that can be used to help develop KTM’s bike in the future. Mainly, it’s traction and tyre wear that must be addressed right now.

If they can get over that hump, there’s a chance that Acosta could be in the hunt for his first win. Espargaro might get another chance to ride in the future, but he won’t want to see his teammates go down again.