After having enjoyed great success with Nieto in the 1970s and “Aspar” Martínez during the 1980s, the firm struggled to find its place in motorcycle Grand Prix. The story was already beautiful, but the end point was still far away.
Barely a year later, it was Herreros known as “Champi” who took over with a masterclass in 80cc, giving the firm its tenth world title. Then another break. This is the hard law of motorsport after all. The saying goes: “
everyone leaves, everyone comes back… except the Scuderia. » Derbi having no connection with Maranello, it is logical that the company took a break in the 1990s.
To come back even stronger.
Thunderclap: for the first time in history, a Derbi wins without a Spaniard driving it. It is the Japanese Youchi Ui, very fast in the early 2000s who is in charge. Unfortunately, without a title in the end. Twice in 2000 and 2001, he finished second in the 125cc championship, each time falling against formidable opponents.
It will not have escaped your notice that a certain Jorge Lorenzo also made his debut for the beautiful Catalans. It was even on board these machines that he created his exterior, which remained famous in Rio de Janeiro in 2003, en route to its first victory.
If Moto3 and the explosion of budgets killed Derbi in competition, the firm left two small gifts before leaving. Of course, we're talking about Marc Márquez's sumptuous championship victory in 2010, winning ten of the seventeen races aboard his Ajo RSA 125cc.
At Ajo Motorsport too, Johann Zarco did not fail to thrill the French fans in 2011, on the reigning champion Derbi. Despite exceptional races and high-level struggles, he had to lose against a more mature and mentally ready Nico Terol. Photo: Jorge Meneses.
It is a real shame that this legendary manufacturer,
so important even, left us almost a decade ago. We will have to remember the impact of Jorge Martínez, very popular in his time, and of course all those who followed. Pablo Nieto, Pol Espargaró, Joan Olivé, Lukáš Pešek and others all shined and paid tribute to the visionary that Rabasas was. Together, they form the second best points record in 125cc behind Aprilia.
This latest epic therefore concludes a series of endless Spanish champions, each as gifted as the next.
But without forgetting our national Mike Di Meglio ! He too was entitled to his crown in 2008, at Derbi please. He is still the only champion on the brand not born on the other side of the Pyrenees. Johann Zarco almost joined him in 2011, jockeying for help – It is the least we can say – with Nico Terol throughout the season before collapsing.
Derbi is too legendary to be summed up in so few words. Derbi is a part of Spanish history in motorcycle racing, it's an institution. Derbi is hot blooded, magnificent pilots, with big hearts. Derbi is almost 100 years of authentic history. In short, Derbi is everything we love about our sport.
