Repsol Honda's Pol Espargaro Calls Mandalika MotoGP Race A Nightmare: It's A Survival Race

Repsol Honda rider Pol Espargaro spoke about the Mandalika MotoGP race. (Doc. MotoGP)

JAKARTA - Repsol Honda racer Pol Espargaro said the Mandalika MotoGP race was like a nightmare. He admitted, his eyesight while racing on the wet track of the Mandalika Circuit was minimal.

The Mandalika MotoGP race, last March 20, took place on a wet track after it had been raining heavily. There is still a lot of water on the track, plus the rain has not completely stopped, making it difficult for the riders to see.

Lack of vision is also the reason why Pol Espargaro almost went off the track during the race when he was about to exit the last corner. He admitted that he did not know that he was on the edge of the track at that time.

"I didn't know I was on the edge of the track until I almost fell. It was a nightmare, I couldn't see anything," said Pol Espargaro, as quoted by Crash.

"It was a survival race because it's so hard to know where you are on the track and there's so much water."

Starting the race from 15th position, Pol Espargaro admitted that he had to accept the bitter pill of receiving a lot of dirt from the riders in front of him. His helmet visor was very dirty and made him unable to race fast.

"I lost my sight. I think I touched Pecco (Bagnaia) twice that day. It was not intentional. It was super, very complicated," he said.

"Yes, the track is grippy but also very dirty so it's a bit balanced. Usually, we count around 10 seconds (slower on the wet than dry) for a track with good grip in the wet and we are 9-10 seconds slower. That's good. But we, or I, end up with eyes full of dust or small stones."

Meanwhile, Repsol Honda team manager, Alberto Puig, assessed that there was a problem with Pol Espargaro's helmet. That is also what Puig feels contributed to the problems experienced by the Spaniard.

"It looks like he can't see properly and I think he will check the situation with his helmet company," said Puig.