The greatest Spanish champion in Grand Prix history may have bowed out and left thousands of people orphaned last year, but his sons and nephew continued to evolve and had a year full of success in 2018. The name “Nieto” is not about to stop shining.
On August 3, 2017, the announcement of the death ofAngel Nieto had shaken up Spain and the world of Grands Prix in general. The greatest Spanish champion in history passed away following an accident, and his disappearance left a great void. It must be said that if Spain is so passionate about motorcycle speed today, it is partly thanks to him and his exploits in the 1960s and 1970s. The Spaniards of the time were interested in their thousands in this compatriot who made the country shine in a still little-known discipline. And more than fifty years later, the impact of motorcycling in Spain is still phenomenal.
After this sad year 2017, life nevertheless continued, and in particular for his two sons, Pablo and Gelete, as well as for his nephew, Fonsi, all three involved in the World Cup. And 2018 came to erase their sorrow a little by bringing them each success, as recalled Motorcycling.
Paul Grandson, first of all, continued to work as team manager of the Sky Racing Team VR46 team. If the 3 Moto2018 season was below expectations and was nevertheless saved by the podiums of Dennis Foggia and Celestino Vietti Ramus, the real triumph came from Moto2. After winning the title of best rookie last year with Francesco Bagnaia, the team obtained its first victories from the Italian as well as Luca Marini at the end of the season, and above all won the title of World Champion with “Pecco. » This is Pablo Nieto's second coronation as team manager after that of Maverick Viñales in 2013.
For its part, Angel Nieto Junior, better known under the nickname "Gelete", took charge of Jorge Martínez Aspar's team, renamed this year to Ángel Nieto Team, in homage to the World Champion and his 12+1 titles (Nieto was very superstitious and never meant “13 tracks”). This team is in reality a structure that extends from CEV to MotoGP, including Moto3. Next year, the premier category team will no longer exist, but it will however return to Moto2 and will also arrive in MotoE. With so many teams and riders, the potential for success will be high, but the team has already been rewarded this year thanks to Albert Arenas' two Moto3 victories and especially the youngster's Junior World Champion (CEV) title. Raúl Fernández. Gelete Nieto has therefore, like his brother, been titled as team manager this season.
Finally, the nephew of the Champion and cousin of the two brothers, Fonsi Nieto, arrived as coach of the Pramac Racing team riders in MotoGP in 2018. His role was to analyze Jack Miller and Danilo Petrucci on the track in order to allow them to progress and go faster. His work paid off as Pramac won the title of best independent team. Next year, in addition to Miller, he will welcome Bagnaia to MotoGP and the Italian will therefore move from Pablo to Fonsi Nieto. The story is therefore not ready to end and the name of the Nietos to shine…
