Espargaro, widely regarded as a frontrunner for Sunday’s full-distance race at the Losail International Circuit, faced disappointment as he plummeted from second to ninth on the opening lap of the grand prix, losing touch with the lead group.
Struggling to recover from the poor start, Espargaro finished in eighth place, narrowly ahead of GasGas Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta. Expressing frustration over his lack of pace, Espargaro attributed his performance to a rear tyre issue, rendering his race “embarrassing” compared to his strong showing in the preceding sprint race.
Despite Espargaro’s successful overtaking maneuvers in the sprint race, where he secured a podium finish, his tyre woes persisted in the main event, hindering his performance.
The Aprilia rider emphasized the need to investigate the tyre issue further in collaboration with Michelin and his team, lamenting the stark contrast in his race pace compared to previous sessions.
