Pol Espargaro has reflected on his MotoGP race career winꦿding down, admitting he cannot match Pedro Acosta’s “fire”.

KTM opted to axe the veteran Espargaro a year ago, demoting him to a test and re🉐serve role to make space for Acosta.

Acosta shone in his rookie year and, in 2025, will be promoted to th🌊e factory KTM team, vi𒈔ndicating their decision to replace Espargaro.

Espargaro, aged 33, raced threꦰe times as a wild card this season, and is still a KTM test rider, juggling a broadcaster role on Spanish television.

“I reached a place, a mom🧸ent in my life, where I am comfortable,” he said.

“I still stay physically very good, but in a way which I enjoy.
“I talk on the TV explaining to people what is happening, because these bike🌱s are complicated with aerodynamics and electronics.

“With the test team, I hear ꧑what they👍 say. I am enjoying my life now.

“I missed it. It’s an amazinꦍg feeling especially when you perform with a good resulꦬt.

“Finishing 10th in San Marino this year, after a crazy race w🅺ith rain? The feeli🌼ng of finishing top 10 in MotoGP when the level is so high…

“I will always miss it, even when I am 60 ♍or 70 years old.

“But you need to understand where your level is. My level of fire on t🌜he bike is not the same, for example, ꦜas Brad Binder or Maverick Vinales or Pedro Acosta.

“The energy that the young guys bring is insane!

“You need to step aside, leꦯt them go into the factory, because they will perform better than you.”

Esparga🗹ro crashed heavily at the opening round of 2023, suffering terrible back and jaw🗹 injuries.

“After the crash, I reali♏sed it wasn't just about myself anymore,” he said.

“I have two daughters and a wife. To be at home, and you can’t catch your daughter because you have pain in your back or 👍arms, that was painful.

“I left a space♉ to Pedro and look what he’s doing! He is amazing.”

KTM welcome 'opposites'

In 2025, Espargaro will be crucial to theღ development of the KTM.

The manufacturer is welcoming Vinales and Enea Bastianini inꦫto their new-look Tech3 team.

“Maverick, we know, ♚is a passionate rider. He is super at the lꦑimit,” Espargaro said.

“He needs to really feel it, to make it.

“Enea is completely the opposite. He is more flat, more cont🔥rolled, you never know what will happen.

“It’s nice to wo🌳rk with these two characters. They have experience.

“Mave🦹rick has won with every bike he’s been on in MotoGP, hopefully this is the next step to fight for the title with a KTM.

“Enea performed very well in the past 🧸🅘two years, amazing on Saturdays and Sundays.

“They are super different, comiꦍng from different bikes. Two Italian bikes.

“There are pros and c🃏ons - let’s try to improve the cons, and keep the pros.”