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Aleix Espargaro opens up about his potential replacement at Aprilia, name drops Jorge Martin

As Aleix Espargaro announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of the season during last weekend's Catalunya MotoGP, speculation arose about who might inherit his Aprilia, particularly his close friend on the grid, Jorge Martin.

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Shubham Shekhar
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Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin

Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin (Source: X)

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Aleix Espargaro announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of the season during last weekend's Catalunya MotoGP, where speculation arose about who might inherit his Aprilia, particularly his close friend on the grid, Jorge Martin. 

With Martin potentially missing out on a factory Ducati spot for 2025, he could be a natural fit for the coveted Aprilia seat. Ducati's decision regarding their 2025 rider lineup, including Martin, Marc Marquez, and Enea Bastianini, is eagerly anticipated. In Barcelona, Espargaro was questioned about the possibility of his friend Martin taking over his bike for the next season.

He said, “For sure, it’s a good team and a good bike. But it’s not fair. Jorge deserves the ride of his dreams, which is the factory Ducati. If he cannot have it, for me, it would be super unfair. And Yes, this would be a very good option.”

'I don’t want to speak about the future' 

Further speaking about his future after retiring from MotoGP Espargaro avoided the question and said that he doesn’t want to speak about it. “I don’t want to speak about the future. But I don’t think I will stay in Aprilia. But To see Jorge win a title or win races with the #41 bike? It’s like if I win. The same feeling”, he said. 

In Barcelona, Espargaro had a memorable weekend, announcing his impending retirement from racing. Despite this, he secured pole position for both races and emerged victorious in the sprint race on Saturday. While he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the main race due to an overtake by Marc Marquez, Espargaro's performance earned him significant praise. 

Importantly, his success served as a reminder of the competitiveness of the Aprilia he will soon depart from, potentially sparking interest from other riders and setting the stage for a potential battle over the coveted bike.

MOTOGP Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing
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