But a three-second post-race penalty for exceeding track limits not only dropped the GASGAS rider behind both Miller and Fernandez, but out꧅side of the points to 16th, where he had started.

ꦍAfter a strong sixth in the Sprint, the injured Espargaro knew he faced a gruelling physical test during his first dry grand prix race of ꩲthe season.

“In the Sprint race I could manage to compensate with other parts of the body,” explained Espargaro, who suffered serious neck and back injuries at Portimao. “ဣBut I woke up [Sunday] morning in really tough physical conditions.

“The race was very ho𓃲t! Very tough and very demanding. I struggled quite a lot.

“I did not feel good, I did not feel fast and I could not use my body to improve th꧋e drive or not waste so much tyre. For sure you lose a lot of performance.

“At the end, I found myself behind Miller and I could overtake him and finish in front of my team-mate. I thought ‘Not too🌌 bad…’ But then I saw the penalty and that I was behind them on the [results].

“I♑t was a bit painful, but, OK. The target for this weekend was to do a good Sprint race and end the [Grand Prix] race as best I could. I finished in P14 which would have been some points. ♕That’s all that matters. The [penalty] is not important.

“Now we move to Barcelona and Misano and every weekend is going to be a little bit better🦋.

“P14 is not bad at all, but for sure I want more. I don’ꦐt want to be so far from Binder.”

Espargaro continues to have nerve pain in his neck from the꧅ Portimao practice injuries, “but even like that, I was performing this weekend, in front of one GASGAS and one KTM on Sunda🌱y in the race. In the Sprint when you just need to push aggressively, I was close to Miller…so it was not bad at all.”

The finishing order of the RC16s has taken on increasing significance after KTM’s home event passed without a public announcement on where Moto2 title leader Pedro Acosta will 💫be placed.

Both Esparga🐼ro and Fernandez say they have a contract for next season, but with the factory's quest for more grid places apparently thwarted, one of the Tech3 riders might need▨ to make way.