Aleix Espargaro is expected to announce that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2024 season. A press conference with Espargaro has been scheduled before his home race in Barcelona. There have been rumors for some time that 2024 could be his last season, which he openly discussed in an exclusive interview. Despite his factory team, Aprilia’s, desire to keep him, Espargaro stated that his future in motorsport depends on his results and enjoyment. The lack of consistent podiums in the current season has hinted at the announcement of his retirement.
This marks the end of a remarkable career in MotoGP, which began in the era of 800cc bikes. Espargaro first entered the premier class in 2009 as a substitute rider for Pramac Ducati. After a strong debut season, he failed to secure a MotoGP seat for 2011 and had to compete in the Moto2 class. He returned to MotoGP in 2012 with the Aspar team and later joined Forward Racing Yamaha in 2014. Riding a disguised CRT machine, he achieved a seventh-place finish in the championship. In 2015, he moved to Suzuki, where he excelled as a development rider. After two seasons, he joined Aprilia in 2017.
At Aprilia, Espargaro became the team leader and played a crucial role in transforming the RS-GP into a competitive bike. He secured his first win in 2022 and went on to win twice more in 2023. His legacy will be defined by his contributions to Aprilia’s success. It is expected that he will remain involved with the team as part of the testing squad. Espargaro is also known for his frankness and sometimes explosive personality, which added to the spectacle of the sport. He has been a strong advocate for rider safety and is likely to continue to be involved in such issues after retiring from full-time motorsport.
Espargaro’s departure at the end of the season confirms rumors that Aprilia will be a key player in the 2025 negotiation season as they search for his replacement. The team is reportedly interested in hiring the rider who misses out on the factory team seat at Ducati. This means that team boss Massimo Rivola can now focus on securing either Enea Bastianini or Espargaro’s close friend, Jorge Martin, as Espargaro’s successor.
