Espargaro says Tech 3 “needs more support” from Yamaha

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaro has urged for the Japanese factory to offer more support to its satellite squad after a tough start to the season.

The French team, which runs year-old Yamaha M1 machines for Espargaro and Bradley Smith, has struggled for pace against its factory rivals so far in 2016, particularly in comparison to last year.

And although, Espargaro sits fifth in the points after the opening four races, largely by virtue of consistent finishing, he expressed his frustration at finishing 30 seconds down on race winner Valentino Rossi at Jerez.

He called on Yamaha to do more to help Tech 3 – particularly with regards to mastering the new-for-2016 control electronic software – and ensure it remains satellite team to beat.

“With these electronics you need more people, and with the tyre you need to adjust the bike in a different way,” said Espargaro. “And we cannot have 20 electronics guys.

“Then the factory bikes are much faster than before, so the satellite teams are much more f**ked than before.

“When the tyres are used, the track temperature is high and the grip is low, you need an amazingly good bike and an amazingly good setting.

“We need more support, because I was 30 seconds off Valentino [at the finish at Jerez]. It’s unbelievable.”

Asked by Motorsport.com if the situation was doubly frustrating because of his status as an official Yamaha-contracted rider, Espargaro replied: “A little bit… but what can you do? I can’t steal the [factory] bikes!

“I understand their job is to focus on the factory bikes, put them where they finished [at Jerez] – first and second.

“It’s good to see [Yamaha] first and second and top satellite. But we are suffering a lot to be the first satellite, against Ducati for example. We need more support.”

“Not the best way to be fifth”

Espargaro also admitted that his championship placing of fifth was not an accurate reflection of Tech 3’s pace, and said he would rather be further down the order having showed more speed.

“Our priority right now is don’t crash, finish the races,” he said. “When some riders overtake me at the beginning of the race, I tell myself ‘[be] patient’.

“Maybe we’re not amazingly fast but we are consistent, and for that reason we are fifth in the championship.

“But this is not the best way to be fifth in the championship – I’d rather be seventh but with much better performance on track.”