An emotional moment
Espargaro was emotional and happy during the announcement. “I am still enjoying an incredible career. It’s very important to me to finish with a good feeling, hence the timing. I feel incredibly happy right now at this moment,” he said. His retirement is made easier by the support of his family and the experience of his brother Pol, who also retired in 2023 after an injury-intensive season.
Career highlights and contribution to Aprilia
Aleix Espargaro began his MotoGP career with the Aspar team in 2010 and returned to the premier class in 2012 after a year in the Moto2 class. Espargaro established himself as an outstanding rider in the CRT class and later in the Open class with the Forward Yamaha team. In 2015, he switched to the new Suzuki factory team and formed a strong duo with Maverick Vinales.
Espargaro has been an integral part of the Aprilia team since 2017 and has made a significant contribution to the development of the Aprilia RS-GP. Although the bike initially struggled, Espargaro achieved the first MotoGP podium for Aprilia at the 2021 British Grand Prix. His first victory at the Argentine Grand Prix followed in 2022. Last year, he celebrated further victories in Great Britain and Catalonia.
The future of Espargaro
For the remainder of the 2024 season, Espargaro is fully focused on his racing, although he remains without a podium finish so far. He has a close relationship with Aprilia and could take on a role as a test rider in the future, similar to his brother Pol at KTM. “At the moment, I’m fully focused on the current season and I honestly don’t have a concrete plan,” said Espargaro about his future plans.
Farewell and legacy
Aleix Espargaro’s retirement marks the end of an impressive career. With over 300 races on the MotoGP speedometer and numerous successes, he has secured himself a permanent place in the history of motorsport. At the end of the press conference, Espargaro tearfully thanked his family, friends and companions. “It’s been a strange week and emotionally extreme – but now at this moment it’s just a huge relief and I’m happy.”
Outlook for Valencia
If Espargaro finishes the season as usual, he will have completed 341 races in MotoGP after the season finale in Valencia. His role in the development of Aprilia’s MotoGP bike will live long in the memory, even if he doesn’t manage to bring the world title home to Noale.
Closing words
Aleix Espargaro’s decision to retire from active motorsport will certainly have an impact on the MotoGP world. His passion and dedication to the sport have made him a respected and admired rider. The coming months will show how he will use his remaining time in MotoGP and what new challenges await him.
