KTM has revealed that a clutch problem initiated Pol Espargaro's smoky𝔉 exit from Sunday's Austin M🔥otoGP.

The Spania🌠rd, who claimed the new team's best yet finish with 14th in Argentina, was running in 18th place - ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith and Aprilia's Sam Lowes - when he was forced to retire.

Team Manager Miꦐke Leitner said: "Pol had an issue with the clutch, which caus꧙ed an oil leak and this is why the engine was smoking."

"We started to feel this problem with the clutc൩h in th♏e second lap," Espargaro revealed. "I was not fast enough in the straights and in some corners the front was shaking quite a lot.

"Honestly the guys put in a big effort this weekend with the new fairing, and they didn't get much sleep. We w🐼ere really unlucky today. I don't know what we could have done, but maybe it would have been possible to take a point.

"We will have s⛄ome new parts to test in Le Mans and after ⛄that we race in Jerez, where we have already been with the KTM. I feel something good is coming but we need to be patient."

Smith🎀, who also scored a point in Argentina, went on to finish in 16th place.

"I was a bit nervous when I saw Pol's bike smoking and afte💫r that, I just tried to look after the bike and the tyres to get some important information for the team," Smith said.