Pol Espargaró

Pol Espargaró Villà (born June 10, 1991) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer who currently rides in the MotoGP class for the KTM factory team. Pol is the younger brother of Aleix Espargaró, and is best known for winning the 2013 Moto2 World Championship. He won the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015 with Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga, and in 2016 with Nakasuga and Alex Lowes.

Career

125cc World Championship (2006–10)

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 promising rider from Barcelona replaced the injured Italian Andrea Iannone at Campetella Racing and made his debut with the Italian team 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. His end of season run-in was spectacular, winning five consecutive races in Spanish 125cc Championship to become champion, followed by a 6th placed 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 10's 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 (2008–10)

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 (2011–13)

Espargaró won the 2013 Moto2 championship.

MotoGP World Championship (2014–present)

Tech 3 (2014–16)

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. Espargaró remained with Tech 3 into the 2015 season, finishing in ninth place in the final championship standings. Espargaró again remained with Tech 3 into the 2016 season, and currently lies eighth in the championship standings.

KTM

Prior to the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, it was announced that Espargaró would join the factory-supported KTM team for the 2017 season. He will partner Bradley Smith in the team, with both riders moving across from the Tech 3 outfit.

Career statistics

By season

By class

Races by year

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

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