Neil Morrison | May 23, 2024
Aleix Espargaro has announced he will retire from full-time MotoGP competition at the end of 2024, but had kept the door open with regards to continuing with Aprilia in a test riding capacity.
The 34-year old had stated at the beginning of the season this could be his final year and would take five or six races to decide. He revealed not feeling completely motivated to leave home for Austin and a frustrating crash during the Sprint race at Jerez as moments which caused him to arrive at this decision.
“I’m very happy,” he said in an emotional exceptional press conference, where many MotoGP and Moto2 riders attended to pay their respects. “There are many riders in the world in this space today that won a lot more than me but I gave it everything that I had. Sometimes I felt I didn’t have the talent of other riders but by working hard I reached quite a high level.
“These last two or three seasons, I was dreaming. This was one reason why is (I) stopped. I’ve already had a lot of fun and I’d like to retire at a good time.”
Espargaro debuted in the World Championship at the final round of 2004 in the 125cc class. After one and a half seasons in the junior category, he stepped up to ride 250s for another two and a half seasons, with limited success.
He made his MotoGP debut midway through 2009 before winning the CRT class in 2012 and 2013. Further achievements included turning the Suzuki into a winning bike from 2015 to 2016 and then Aprilia to a machine capable of numerous victories. He scored his first Grand Prix success in Argentina, 2022.
But rather than state wins, Espargaro went leftfield with his career highlight. “The best moment, it’s easy to say Argentina,” he said. “But today is an amazing moment, a feeling I’ve never had before. Relief. I’m extremely happy today. I’ve been a very lucky person. I don’t want to choose just one moment. The most difficult was the ’18 season when I was very close to retire. In fact, I decided to retire but my wife Laura persuaded me to stay. It was very difficult to find the motivation at home, but thankfully I have great people around me.”
On the rumors of chances of a testing role with Honda, he stated, “We’ll have time to talk about it. I just want to enjoy this moment. I still have a long season in front of me on one of the best bikes on the grid with an opportunity to fight for wins and podiums. Also, the future with the changes in regulations in 2027, I’ll have some possibilities to be testing. I know a lot of riders in this class today want my bike so I need to have fun on it in the future.”
And Espargaro stated the recent retirement of brother Pol was behind his decision. “100% yes,” he said when asked if that had an influence. “After Pol’s crash was not easy. He had a big one and he changed quite a lot. I see him happier which I didn’t expect. When you’re not riding you are not happy, not having fun at home. But he changed, and is super happy. He pushed me a bit more to this decision.”
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