IN
THE
WIND
P34
Pol Espargaro Officially Signed
By Repsol Honda
P
ol Espargaro will become
a Repsol Honda rider in
2021 after the team formally
announced his signing in
place of Alex Marquez.
Espargaro has been part
of KTM's MotoGP project
since its inception, leading
development of the RC16
that saw him take a podium
place in third at the final
race of 2018 and will face
off against lifetime rival Marc
Marquez in the same team
for the first time. Marquez
and Espargaro have a very
long history of intense com-
petition between the two,
which stretches right back to
the Spanish junior categories
as pre-teens.
"Honda Racing Corpora-
tion are pleased to announce
the signing of Pol Espargaro," HRC
said in a statement. "The former Moto2
World Champion will join the Repsol
Honda Team on a two-year contract.
He will join eight-time World Cham-
pion Marc Marquez aboard the Honda
RC213V. Espargaro is one of the most
experienced riders on the grid, hav-
ing raced in the World Championship
since 2006 and with 104 premier class
Grands Prix contested."
Espargaro's appointment comes
at the expense of Alex Marquez, the
2019 Moto2 World Champion who
had yet to turn a wheel in racing anger
in MotoGP. He will move to the LCR
squad in place of Cal Crutchlow, who
is rumored to be close to a deal to re-
place the suspended Andrea Iannone
at Aprilia for 2021.
"HRC would like to extend their
thanks to Cal Crutchlow for his diligent
and tireless work since joining HRC
in 2015," a statement from HRC read.
"With three wins and 12 podiums, the
British rider has been a valuable asset
on and off track—a constant source
of excellent feedback for the engi-
neers and a key part of developing
the Honda RC213V in recent years.
HRC wish him all the best in his future
endeavors." CN
Pol Espargaro is
officially an HRC rider.
Alex Marquez moves
to the LCR squad.
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
