It’s an open secret that Aleix Espargaró played a crucial role in Jorge Martín’s signing with Aprilia. This is already known, but the Catalan’s involvement went beyond being a key factor in the deal. He even acted as a friend and agent, working behind the scenes to make the contract happen.
Aleix Espargaró told MARCA about the situation, recalling how Jorge Martín’s future changed overnight. “It was the craziest situation in the world. Jorge Martín had everything closed with Ducati the week of the Catalan GP,” Aleix said. This implies that Jorge Martín was initially set to sign with Ducati.
The story of Martín’s signing is complex, and Aleix’s statements provide insight into the timings and events that led to the deal. “The Italian GP arrives, it had been four days since Catalonia and suddenly everything goes a little wrong and I can’t quite see it clearly,” Aleix explained. “He came to my motorhome after the race, one day at night, and I had a lot of doubts, I had several offers.”
Aleix then tried to convince Martín to join Aprilia, doing a job that the team must be grateful for. “I told him, ‘If you can’t be at Ducati, I think there is no better place. We are the bike to beat, I am the non-Ducati rider who has won the most races in the last three years. A guy like you, with your talent and with your hunger in a team like mine, which is the best in the world, you will be very happy,'” he said.
He continued to play a key role in the negotiations, acting as Martín’s agent and calling the bosses at Aprilia. “He left the motorhome at 12:30 a.m. at night, I sent a message to the CEO of Aprilia and they made the contract quickly the next day, he signed and it was a coup for Aprilia,” Aleix revealed.
Aleix expressed his excitement about Martín’s new stage, even joking that he hadn’t retired to share a team with his friend. “Imagine, he is my best friend and being able to retire and having my motorcycle on him next year is amazing,” he said. “If I find out that Maverick is also leaving, we’ll organize it a little earlier and we’ll both run together, but I won’t be in the frame for a month,” he concluded with a laugh.