Repsol Honda rider Pol Espargaro has ended a difficult Austrian MotoGP in P16 - same position as the StyrianGP a wee💟k earlier. 

Struggles aboard the RC2ꦰ13V for the former KTM rider haven’t lessened since the summer break ended, in fact the double header in Spielberg was Espargaro’s two worst finishes of the year (excluding DNF’s). 

Only Cal Crutchlow finished behin🌞d the Spaniard who was over 40 seconds down o🐟n race winner Brad Binder.  

Like his team-mate Marc Marquez, Espargaro pitted for wet tyres b🐟ut was one of the last to do so, which exaggerated the final time deficit. 

Speaking after the race, Espargaro alluded to 🍌his current riding style not ‘suiting t𝔉he current situation’, while other issues are coming from different rubber being laid down on Sundays compared to practice. 

Espargaro added: "It was a disastrous race. I had nothing wꦉith the bike, no grip and I was just spinning the whole race. 

"Different race, different day but the same result. My riding style isn’t suiting the curren๊t situation and for sure I’m working to improve it. 

"In practice our pace isn’t bad, in the top ten, but then when we go to the race with different rubber o𓆏n track – I lose the grip and the pace I had a🌠fter five or six laps. 

"It’s not enough and I’m not satisfied, but now 🐼we move to Silverstone and see what happens."

In the hands of Marquez, the Repsol Honda has made steady improvements which shows that there is potenti♌al with the bike - although this is also being helped by the Spaniard’s improved physical condition.