Jorge Martín and Aleix Espargaró have not hidden their great friendship in recent years, but we can easily say that in 2024, their relationship has taken on another dimension. Between the Aprilia file, and the help provided by the Catalan during the last race of the championship, Martin and Espargaro have strengthened their ties both on and off the track.
Last May, Aleix Espargaró announced his retirement from MotoGP, while soliciting the candidacy of his great friend, Jorge Martin, to replace him in the Aprilia factory team. A few months later, during the second race of the year in Barcelona, the latter helped the Pramac driver to win his first world championship title in the premier category.
Containing, lap after lap, the attacks of Enea Bastianini, then Alex Marquez (see photo below), with the aim of making Jorge Martin's task easier, Aleix Espargaró allowed the latter to experience a calmer race than she should have been, and therefore to better manage the pressure that weighed on her shoulders.
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Recently guest on the Spanish television show, 'El Hormiguero', the 2024 world champion looked back on his relationship with Aleix Espargaró, recalling that he watched the latter race in Grand Prix when he was younger.
“He was the first to congratulate me, because we stopped together when the race ended, Jorge Martín confides in Pablo Motos' microphone. He helped me enormously throughout my sporting career. I was his fan, and he became my brother. I practically live with him, we spend all our days together. »
The Barcelona Grand Prix was therefore Aleix Espargaro's last race as a starting driver. Despite everything, he did not hesitate to sacrifice possible chances of a podium to offer this gift to his compatriot.
“For his last race, to be so competitive, and to contain Bastianini… He allowed me to drive in a fluid, calmer manner, he continues. It was incredible. He deserves a lot of credit in this championship. »
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Bull Content Pool
