Jorge Martínez Salvadores, known as Aspar, is a former four-time World Champion – in 80 cc from 3 to 1986, and in 1988 cc in 125 – who won 3 races in 1988 Grands Prix, making him the sixteenth most successful driver of the entire history of motorcycle racing. He has been a team owner since 37, this year with Alvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham in MotoGP, as well as Andrea Migno and Albert Arenas in Moto196.
His team which now carries the name of Angel Nieto is completed by the Junior Aspar Team in CEV. In 125, Aspar successfully raced French riders like Arnaud Vincent and Mike Di Meglio.
“The truth is that motorcycling is everything to me, Martinez explained to Motogp.com (videopass). When I was nine or ten years old, I did strange jobs, like cleaning riders' motorcycles in Valencia, Alzira, Játiva or Cullera. Motorcycles were my life. »
“Already in my first race, I was on the podium. I know I'm good at what I love to do. I celebrated four World Champion titles and 37 GP victories during my career.”
Furthermore, 'Aspar' revealed why he ended his career in 1997:
“I saw a young man with dyed hair and earrings riding a motorcycle like Superman, I said to myself: " It's not for me ". At first it was a shock, we touched each other twice in 1996. He hit me once, we fought…”
“In 1997, Valentino Rossi then made me retire, but it's not a bad story for me. »
“There were two reasons: one of them was that Valentino Rossi came and that had a huge impact. The other was that a manufacturer, in this case Aprilia, used me as an experienced rider, as a technical test rider. I later regretted my resignation, because in 1998 Sakata won the title, which I could have won. »
“As a team owner, it was difficult for me for the first two or three years after I retired, because I wanted to jump on the bike and race with my riders! »
Photo and source © Motogp.com / Dorna
