MotoGP 2024. Catalan GP. A very emotional Aleix Espargaro announced his retirement [VIDEO e GALLERY] – MotoGP

QHere last year he won twice, two years ago he lost second place for celebrating one lap before the end. The Catalunya GP is special for Aleix Espargaro and here, very excited, he announced retirement from MotoGP at the end of 2024.

He said it in a special press conference organized in the Catalunya GP, on Aleix’s home track. The Aprilia rider arrived in MotoGP in 2009.

Aleix with Aprilia he won 3 GPs in the top class and obtained the first victory in this class for the Noale manufacturer, in Argentina in 2022.

Aleix appeared very tense before and then very moved during the announcement. She started to cry during the thanks, after mentioning the family and his brother Pol. The most moved of the other pilots was thegood friend Jorge Martin who couldn’t help but cry (see photo in the Gallery below).

“Thank you all for being here. As you all imagine I decided to retire at the end of the year from the role of official rider in MotoGP. I’ve had a strange career, I’ve done so many things and I never imagined having such a long career in the world championship, with podiums and victories. I am very proud of all this. And it’s great to be able to make this announcement here, at my home track.”

Looking back at the career Aleix said: “I committed many errors and maybe without those I would have collected more, but I always have I ran with my heart and I’m happy about this. There head today he tells me that I still am very fast, who are able to keep up with my teammates who are very fast. But just the Heart asks me today about stay at home more to enjoy my family.”

“They were 20 wonderful years in the paddock and I’m very happy and proud of what we’ve done with Aprilia. We did it history and we will never forget this. I had a lot of fun and we created an incredible human group. We have a beautiful weekend ahead of us, on a track that I like and where I am fast, and there are still many races before Valencia to be competitive.”

Going into the merits of the decision to retire: “I have decided to take a step aside, to start living a more peaceful life and I want to thank Aprilia for these years which have been a dream. I spoke about it with Massimo Rivola, Romanio Albesianowith Paolo Bonora. I will never thank them enough for what they gave me and what I was able to give to them. I also thank you the Ezpeleta familymy family, my brother Pol (and after mentioning Pol’s name he couldn’t hold back his words tears and the emotion, ed.) which has always been my reference. I thank my manager Valera, my wife Laura. I tried to be the best I could and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

“I had one very particular careerI won the first race after 30 years and I was the first to do it with Aprilia. Pol influenced my decision. I saw him happier even after he retired, he pushed me a little towards this decision.”

What will he do from 2025? “I think I’ll ride a bike a lot but it’s too early to talk about my future as a rider. I’m thinking about the new regulations, maybe I’ll have the chance to do the test driver but I don’t think about it today. I know I have one of the best bikes and I know that many riders here would like that bike. I just need to have fun until the end of the year.”

The best memory: “I could say it’s the Argentine GP (in 2022, first victory, ed.), but in reality today I feel incredible, I’ve never felt like this. I feel a sense of relief, it’s beautiful. If I have to talk about the most difficult momentI think 2018, because I was really close to retreat. I had made up my mind, my wife Laura convinced me to continue. I suffered with Aprilia, I finished far from the leaders. But luckily I had Laura on my side.”

Who would you like to take your place? “Obviously Jorge Martin! But a place in the official Ducati would be right for him, he deserves it.”

Vinales and Rivola

Vinales: “Aleix is ​​a great teammate. We spent four years together and experienced unforgettable moments. Together we bring Aprilia to the top, I have wonderful memories with Aleix. We still have a year ahead of us to take Aprilia even higher together.”

Rivola: “Thank you Aleix, because with you we have built an incredible story. Thank you for not giving up in difficult times and for being a great example for all of us. You won the captain’s armband on the field on merit. You gave us the first podium, the first pole position, the first victory here in Barcelona and the first double with Maverick. Your spirit, with your ups and downs, with your character, reflect the energy of this team and of the entire Noale factory. I don’t know what you will do in the future, but you will always remain an Aprilia rider. From today a new page opens for the rider market and Aprilia Racing will certainly not stand by and watch. With our style we will guarantee a great future for this team, which you have contributed to making a true top team.”