Three-time MotoGP winner Aleix Espargaro announces retirement

The 34-year-old Spaniard made the announcement on Thursday afternoon ahead of his home Catalan Grand Prix at Barcelona, where he won both the Saturday and Sunday races last year.

Espargaro’s current Aprilia contract expires at the end of this year and he had already admitted at the signing of this deal two years ago that he expected it to be his last.

Despite telling media at the Americas GP that he was still to decide on what he wanted to do for 2025, he has elected to call time on his racing career.

"I am happy to announce my retirement as a full-time rider. It has been a wonderful 20 years in this paddock and I am very happy and proud of what we have achieved together with Aprilia," said Espargaro.

"We made history and that will never be forgotten. I have had so much fun and we have created an incredible human group. We have a very nice weekend ahead of us, at a track I like and where I am fast, and there are still plenty of races left until Valencia to be competitive."

Espargaro made his MotoGP debut in 2009 as a replacement rider at Pramac Ducati at the Indianapolis GP, scoring points in his maiden race in 13th.

He would make four appearances in total that year, all of them yielding points, before signing full-time with Pramac for 2010.

Achieving a best of eighth in an injury-hit season, Espargaro returned to the intermediate class in 2011 where he finished 12th in the Moto2 standings having scored a first grand prix podium at Barcelona.

three-time motogp winner aleix espargaro announces retirement

Aleix Espargaro, Aspar Team ART

Aleix Espargaro, Aspar Team ART

Photo by: Aspar Team

He returned to MotoGP in 2012 with the Aspar squad aboard an Aprilia-powered CRT machine, scoring in all but two rounds to end the campaign as top CRT rider.

He did the same in 2013 before moving to the Forward Racing squad on an Open class Yamaha machine – on which he scored a fortunate first pole at Assen and then beat Ducati’s Cal Crutchlow in a race to the line at Aragon to finish second.

Espargaro signed a factory deal for 2015 to join the fledgling Suzuki project alongside his current Aprilia team-mate Maverick Vinales.

Instrumental in the development of the GSX-RR that would eventually win the championship with Joan Mir in 2020, Espargaro was a consistent top eight challenger on the bike but never scaled the same race-winning heights as Vinales.

A move to Aprilia’s factory project in 2017 followed, with Espargaro extracting the most out of a bike few ever regarded as being MotoGP-worthy across his first three seasons.

After a particularly difficult 2019, Espargaro considered retirement, but elected to continue with Aprilia into 2020.

three-time motogp winner aleix espargaro announces retirement

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

Photo by: Dorna

In 2021 he made history at the British GP when he scored Aprilia’s first MotoGP podium with a third at Silverstone, following that up in 2022 with his and the team’s first win in Argentina.

Espargaro fought for the championship in 2022 until the latter stages, and though a title challenge didn’t materialise in an inconsistent season for Aprilia in 2023 he still won two grands prix.

During his time in grand prix racing, Espargaro has also often been an outspoken voice on safety in the championship and pushing for necessary changes.

Read Also:

three-time motogp winner aleix espargaro announces retirement
2024 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
three-time motogp winner aleix espargaro announces retirement
Dorna expects to make Indian MotoGP round decision imminently
three-time motogp winner aleix espargaro announces retirement
MotoGP set to remain faster than WSBK under 2027 rules – how do they compare now?

OTHER NEWS

22 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

23 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

23 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

23 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

23 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

23 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join

23 minutes ago

Never (really) too young to have a will

23 minutes ago

Exciting call for nominations for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

23 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

23 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

23 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

23 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

23 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

23 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

23 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

23 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

23 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

23 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

23 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

23 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

23 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

23 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news

23 minutes ago

Toronto's Zach Edey eyes top 20 pick as Raptors continue rebuild in NBA draft

23 minutes ago

Aston Martin Valiant: A Hardcore Track Star With a Manual

23 minutes ago

Wes Streeting says Labour's rail nationalisation plan would bring down fares

23 minutes ago

Anthony Joshua set to land chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois on September 21... as Oleksandr Usyk VACATES his IBF belt after taking rematch with Tyson Fury

23 minutes ago

Kevin Rudd joins Julian Assange as he arrives for court appearance

23 minutes ago

Now Nigel Farage suggests Zelensky should make peace with Putin

23 minutes ago

Multi-talented Kea Zawadi first female presenter of Algoa FM Top 30

23 minutes ago

5 free agents Kaizer Chiefs could bring to Naturena to bolster their squad

28 minutes ago

ESPN analyst ranks Patriots defense as top-five unit in NFL

28 minutes ago

Daybreak Foods, YES Programme partner to combat youth unemployment

28 minutes ago

CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia rallies after sell-off, lifts S&P 500 and Nasdaq

32 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom blasts 'delusional California bashers' in speech

32 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

32 minutes ago

Fed's Bowman Says 'Not Yet' Appropriate to Cut Rates

32 minutes ago

Why Dunkin' Donuts' New Commercial Actress Looks So Familiar

32 minutes ago

Costly election pledges in France stoke fears of splurges that risk pushing country deeper into debt

32 minutes ago

Mark Cuban offloads 14 NFTs from his collection in two days

32 minutes ago

Rashee Rice on maturity: 'This is a step in a better direction for me'