Retro: This legendary team will disappear, a tribute is necessary – 2/2

Pons Racing will cease its activity at the end of the 2023 season. With it, a generation, memories, an era are passing away. Since yesterday, we have been paying tribute to this wonderful team. First, we looked at his debut in the premier category, in an article that you can find by clicking here. Today, time for rebirth.

 

The second life of Pons Racing

 

In 2009, hope was reborn. Sito raises funds, and relaunches a business with Aprilia in 250cc. Under the name “Pepe World Team”, the team counts on Héctor Barberá and Axel Pons, son of Sito. The goal is to refocus on Spanish talent at a lower cost, a philosophy which had disappeared over the course of the MotoGP epic. Success is immediate. Héctor Barberá has a fantastic season, only beaten by world champion Hiroshi Aoyama overall. Quickly, a new challenge faced the Sito teams. Like others, he registered for the debut of the Moto2 championship in 2010, a new category with a standardized 600cc Honda engine, but which leaves the possibility for the different (and numerous) teams to choose their chassis.

 

 

And there was plenty of choice! But Sito sets his sights on Kalex, a decision that quickly pays off. More loyal to his country than ever, he selects exclusively Spanish sponsors, including one that made him famous; Los40. Sometimes called " 40 » (pronounce “cuarenta”) Where " The 40 Main ”, this is a popular radio network throughout the Hispanic world. A sprawling company that is heavily involved in the adventure. From now on, drivers will have to tackle the #40 when they sign with the team! A rare feature in our time, reminiscent of the private numbers belonging to the bosses used in NASCAR. With two thieves under the awning, there are, of course, exceptions, but it is a nod that we find until the 2023 season, where Arón Canet approaches it in turn.

Talent followed one another under the leadership of Sito Pons, who, undoubtedly, established himself as one of the best recruiters on the motorcycling planet. You know the names; Aleix Espargaró, Tito Rabat, Luis Salom, Maverick Viñales, Álex Rins, Augusto Fernández, Alonso López and even, at the end, internationals like Luca Marini, Fabio Quartararo and Lorenzo Baldassarri. We have deliberately forgotten one, the only one who was titled in one of the three major categories at Pons: Pol Espargaro. In 2013, Aleix's little brother played for the title against Scott Redding but the Englishman was clearly better at the start of the season. With more than 30 points ahead at the time of the summer break, the job seems done. This was without counting on the resilience of “Pollycio”, who managed to climb back up to the general level until finishing titled! Sito had finally realized his dream; fcrown a young Spanish talent.

The team always played in front, also thanks to its equipment. It was the only team to benefit from a different name, namely “Kalex-Pons”! Unlike MarcVDS, another historic team, they have always trusted the Germans to make their chassis. But it doesn't stop there! Pons won two MotoE world cups thanks to Jordi Torres, and also worked greatly to develop talent in single-seaters, from Heikki Kovalainen à Rene Binder. In short, a life far too short to be summarized in 1300 words.

 

 

We wanted to publish this for more personal reasons. The author of this article, not so young but still too young to dare to write in the first person singular, grew up with Sito Pons. Firstly through video games, whether the creations of Namco in the early 2000s – where Max Biaggi was one of the best drivers on this bright yellow Honda – until the revival of the license via Milestone in 2013. As a poster, too, with this enormous slide by Pol Espargaró under the spotlights Qataris in 2012. We think we speak for everyone when we say that Pons Racing embodies a period, or even two. That of the flamboyant Álex Rins, who rides despite a black flag to continue to fight on the track at Misano. In MotoGP as in Moto2, Pons will have left us with indelible memories, and we hope to see him again soon on the circuits. A few days after writing this article, we learned of his involvement at RNF Racing from the start of the 2024 season. What do you want, passion has spoken. 

And you, what do you remember from the Pons adventure in Grand Prizes ? Tell us in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport