MADRID, 2 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spanish rider Aleix Espargaró will be a Honda test rider in 2025, meaning he will continue to be active in the MotoGP World Championship after announcing his retirement from professional racing last May, according to a statement from the Japanese factory published on Monday.
“Honda will strengthen its testing programme with the addition of Aleix Espargaró as a test rider in 2025,” the Japanese structure announced on its website regarding the future of the Spanish rider.
The 34-year-old Spanish driver announced at the end of May, from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, that he will retire at the end of the 2024 World Championship, after 20 seasons as a professional and with more than 250 races in the top category.
And now he has chosen Honda to take his next step in the championship, to bring his “vast experience in Grand Prix” and “the pedigree of three victories and more than 1,300 points in MotoGP” now as a test rider for the Japanese brand. “He will join HRC stalwart Stefan Bradl to continue the development of the Honda RC213V,” the statement said.
After calling a special press conference, the Granollers (Barcelona) rider – born next to the Circuit – announced before the GP in Barcelona that, as he is about to turn 35, this would be his last MotoGP World Championship, thus putting an end to his role as ‘Captain’ of Aprilia, a firm he joined in 2017 and which he has led to its growth to the point of winning. His place will be taken by fellow Spaniard Jorge Martín in 2025.
It was at the 2022 Argentine GP, at the Termas de Río Hondo Circuit, that Aleix Espargaró achieved his first MotoGP victory, the first for Aprilia in the premier class. Two more victories would follow, at Silverstone (United Kingdom) in 2023 and at ‘his’ Catalunya GP in the same year.
Aleix Espargaró has competed in 326 races, with 5 pole positions, 12 podiums and 3 victories in all categories, in those 20 years of giving it all with his characteristic smile.
2024-07-02 10:32:41
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