A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the Dutch TT of 1984, when Jorge Martínez "Aspar" took on the role of team manager Derbi but still showed his qualities as a rider by taking his first ever victory in the 80cc class. The man he had to beat was none other than local favourite Hans Spaan, which only made his final-lap win even more exciting. Afterwards Ángel Nieto told him: "No matter how many races you have won, savour this moment because you will never forget it."
Four world titles and no fewer than 36 victories later, the 'Apsar' who lined up on the grid in Argentina was an entirely different man to that 21-year-old who came of age ten years earlier at 'The Cathedral'. Ready to race his notoriously difficult Yamaha and with more than one Japanese job at stake, the veteran made a final corner pass on Ueda to secure the final victory of his stellar career. Today Jorge Martínez "Aspar" celebrates again, having watched his team take their 200th podium no long ago he is now left to reflect on a century of victories.
His own 37 wins as a rider have been complimented by another 63 as the leader of the Aspar Team, now a standard-bearing organisation within the MotoGP paddock. The circuit was Donington and the rider lucky enough to take the milestone victory and forever form part of the glorious Jorge Martínez "Aspar" story was Julián Simón. Faubel made his mark with seven wins, Elías and Porto with six each, Fonsi with five and his cousin Pablo with the only victory of his career; each has contributed to the Aspar Team's winning pedigree. However, it has been without doubt Álvaro Bautista, the team's leading light in the 250cc class, who has been the main heir to Jorge's legacy, taking sixteen victories so far in "Aspar" colours.
The world of motorcycling has changed and continues to change dramatically since those early days - the circuits, the bikes, the way it is viewed. but one thing that has always remained is that youthful gaze of a fifteen-year-old who has never stopped dreaming despite the success and the inevitable passage of time.
As well as his own take on this landmark, former Aspar riders lined up with their own praise for the man, his team and his vision...
Jorge Martínez "Aspar":
"Who would have thought back in '79 when I started racing that I could end up in such a privileged position? Looking back on everything we have achieved since then makes me enormously proud and happy. It is incredible to think back to when I was a 15-year-old, when I started racing bikes, and I have never been separated from my life's passion. I am enormously proud to have a team with six riders in the World Championship, with 200 podiums recently and now 100 victories. There have obviously been a lot of hard times with crashes, injuries, operations and lean financial periods - times when you feel like throwing in the towel. However, I think that one of the most important things in life is consistency, as well as self-belief and fighting for your dreams. I would like to thank all the people who have contributed to the success of this team, from the mechanics to the chief engineers and of course all the sponsors and brands who have worked with us and without whom we could have never reached this glorious milestone."
Álvaro Bautista:
"What more can I say other than that it is incredible to form part of this team. Everything I have achieved in my career has been here and I hope I can add to it. My objective is to win at least as many races as Jorge, to whom I will be eternally grateful for showing faith in me from the beginning."
Sergio Gadea:
"To have recently celebrated the 200th podium and now a century of wins is just an example of the greatness of this team. All of my victories and podiums have been here and I am really pleased that they gave me the chance to become a top rider. I would like to congratulate Jorge for reaching this impressive number and thank him for helping me to grow so much as a rider."
Julián Simón:
"Even though I only form part of the recent history of the Aspar Team, it is an honour for me to have contributed in making it even more successful, if that was possible! As a rider and a person Jorge is an example to follow and it is no coincidence that he has made it to 100 wins. I'm sure he will maintain this level for a long time to come."
Bradley Smith:
"I am one of the new Aspar boys and I already feel part of the living history of the team. Ever since I arrived I have felt at home, thanks to the warmth and professionalism of the team and this year I was fulfill a dream together with them by winning my first race."
Héctor Faubel:
"Every victory I have to my name was won together with the Aspar family. I remember them with great satisfaction and it is a source of great pride for me to have formed part of this great team. I would like to congratulate Jorge for his 100th victory and wish him all the best for the future."
Héctor Barberá:
"I scored the first victory of my career with the Aspar Team here at Donington, so that is a very special memory. For me those two years were a great learning experience within such an experienced team."
Pablo Nieto:
"It makes me proud to have contributed a small part to the Aspar Team and Jorge arriving at 100 victories and I hope there are many more."
Toni Elías:
"I am so happy for Jorge and the whole team because they have a real human touch and they deserve to arrive to as important a milestone as 100 wins. It is special to form part of the Aspar Team story."
Randy De Puniet:
"The victory that I took with the Aspar Team was very exciting, because it was pouring with rain en Donington and I went off track whilst fighting with Stoner and West, but was able to win. The track isn't one of my favourites, so I remember the race fondly. I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to Jorge for reaching this milestone."
Álex De Angelis:
"My time with the Aspar Team was a very important experience for me and a huge part of my career - in fact I scored my only win so far with them. I am happy for Jorge to have made it to 100 wins - he deserves it because he is one of the few people who is still in the paddock through passion and not business. Apart from that he is a very attentive manager who always puts the interests of his riders first."
Mattia Pasini:
"I remember my time with Jorge with a lot of nostalgia - it was a very positive experience from a sporting perspective. I won two races with the Aspar Team and it could easily have been a lot more. We made a really strong team."
No comments:
Post a Comment