POL ESPARGARO: "Coming back here in Portugal, being able to finish the race in the top 10, and being able to bring back good information to the team, is something that I am really happy about. I feel like I have closed the circle, I have finished the weekend here that I did not finish in 2023, so it is a relief somehow, and we can all kind of close that chapter. I hope that it is the last time of the season that I am racing, because it would mean that Maverick Vinales is finally fit and ready to come back. In case it is the last time this season, I would like to thank the Tech3 team for the few rounds we have spent together, they are family to me, so thank you to everyone for making me feel at home!"

NICOLAS GOYON, Team Manager: "First of all, I really would like to thank Pol Espargaro who did another unbelievable weekend for us. I know he was not 100% ready to replace Maverick this week since the decision was made quite late, and we all know that the last time he was in Portugal was a bad memory. It was for sure not easy mentally, but we are really glad that he got 'closure' with this track, with two top 10 results this weekend, and with our team also, so thank you for everything Pol."

Cryin in the cluuuuub 😭👍 #PE44 #MotoGP

He'd need to race in Valencia for a chance to finish with double the pts total of his last year as a full timer (one point away!), and *potentially* finish in front of Martín and Oliveira in the champo - all as an injury replacement!! ❤🩹 #PE44 #MotoGP

P10 BABYYYYY!!! 🥺 Not sure if he lost flow/draft/performance after Morbido's hoofery, would've liked to see if there was any more in the tank without that because it was a lonely one. Still, more points, and more importantly: demons slayed, #Portimouch no more, you did it fella 💖💖💖💖 #PE44 #MotoGP

Missed out on #sproints by a second but another top 10! 👌 Also still comfortably going better than 2023 so Y'KNOW #PE44 #MotoGP

Pol bends over a countertop, carefully brushing some kind of wash over a baking tray of chocolate balls with a variety of coatings - nuts, coconut, cocoa powder etc. He's even wearing a glove for professional handling

Tuesday: a budding chocolatier
Friday: STRAIGHT TO Q2 BABYYYYYYY!!!!! #PE44 #MotoGP

"Pol Espargaro [...] was fast even after a big crash at turn 2" Pol, crashing is illegal for you here on the grounds of: my heart 🥺 #PE44 #MotoGP

A story posted by Pol Espargaró showing him smiling on track at Malaysia; his caption reads "someone said...RACE WEEK? Portimao [bandaged heart emoji] unfinished business [snorting emoji]"

I lov him so so much 😭👍 #PE44 #MotoGP #Portimouch

BACK ONCE AGAIN FOR THE RENEGADE GRAVEL let's exorcise those Portimao demons fella 💖 #PE44 #MotoGP

A comment on Pol's Instagram post from Fabio Quartararo, translating to "sod off to New York with your fam and don't come back because you're too fast m8"

😭👍 #MotoGP #PE44

WELP wheelied at the start, stuck in a bunfight for 10th (I think?) then lowsided out of it (I think??) Thanks for filming literally two battles the whole race so far 👍 #MotoGP #PE44

It also undid Pol's vengeance pass on Z*rco (that pleasingly cost him two further places) after lap one violence 😡 #MotoGP #PE44

On for 8th, 9th at worst and ANOTHER Sprint points finish(!) but done out of it by Marini choosing to have his one and only crash of the year into him 🤌 🤌 🤌 🤌 🤌 🤌 #MotoGP #PE44

Pffff not a clue what his runs were like beyond only getting one (1) reasonable lap in because we didn't see him from start to finish and #MotoGP quali graphics are deliberately useless these days. On his second run I think he was right behind Acosta when he crashed? 🤷‍♀️ #PE44

UPDATE: BOIIIIIIIIII #PE44 #MotoGP

IT IS KNOWN

(P.S. Pol P4 in FP1, aw shit here we go again etc) #MotoGP #PE44

23 points in the champo, easily more points than last year AND his ill-fated nearly-died 2023; at least one more injury replacement ride to come and theoretically on course to end with more than half his total from his final year with Honda - from FOUR rides! #MotoGP #PE44

I see what he means when he says he's missing about .2s! Not *slow* by any means, but spent 75% of the race defending. Last KTM, but he should be! Took Bestia until 9 laps to go to pass him!

P10 after 2 months off, 10/10 made an embarrassing noise when he passed Aldeguer late on x #MotoGP #PE44

Comms being effusive in praise (and lov) for Pol 😭👍 #MotoGP #PE44

A screenshot of my Saturday and Sunday alarms, both set at 4:50am, tagged "it's fuckin Pol time bitch" and "it's fuckin Pol time bitch (again)"

Aight ima head out (don't crevice yourself in warm-up so I'm waking up at 5am for no reason thanks xox) #MotoGP #PE44

a man wearing a blue hat is holding his head . Alt: Tearful George Russell in the press pen saying P9

Normally I'd think it was embarrassing to finish between the Hondas but fair play to them for bothering the top ten? Anyway, looked like being an exercise in being overtaken at first but nae bad in the end, TearfulGeorgeRussell.gif, and still beat Bestia 😇 #MotoGP #PE44

Is the rule not FIRST person to set one of two identical lap times gets to qualify in front?? Or is it some count back shit?? LOOK AT ME COMPLAINING ABOUT P8 ANYWAY!!!!! #MotoGP #PE44 #LastRunWasGashANDMistimedIMO #P8THO

Binder KNOWS!!! 🗣🗣🗣 #MotoGP #PE44

Pol P8 and through to Q2 days after feeding squirrels in Central Park. Built different (like a hench Disney Princess) (SCREAMIN!!!!!!!) #MotoGP #PE44

16 points, 21st in the championship off the back of two rounds as a late replacement. 8th is now Pol's best finish since his second and final podium for Honda(!!!) at the 2022 season opener in Qatar. Also: I lov him. #PE44 #MotoGP

P8!!!!!!! Sometimes u just gotta ride around in circles not making mistakes that others make, u know? Finishing directly in front of two world champions, not bad for a part timer, fastest baker in the land etc etc 🥰🥰🥰🥰 #PE44 #MotoGP

P10!!!! Soz I've been out being gay #MotoGP #PE44

Honestly feel like following Marc when he was already top was Not The Tactic; he could afford to fuck around and find out, Pol couldn't 🤷‍♀️ #MotoGP #PE44

An OUTSTANDING job!!!

Hopping on a plane to Balaton to give him a "best son, perfect angel" medal bye #MotoGP #PE44

bsky.app/profile/moto...

Straight through to Q2 this time and a joyous garage!! I lov him!!! 🥰 #MotoGP #PE44 #FastPundit #FastestBaker

POL P2 TWO TENTHS OFF MARC !!!!!!!!! #MotoGP #PE44 #screamin