MotoGP: The Aspar team changes name in memory of Nieto

MotoGP Aspar Team – 2017, which is about to end, was a difficult year for motorcycling. One of the greatest tragedies we have had to face was the passing of the greatest champion of Spanish motorcycling, Angel Nieto.

The 13-time world champion passed away this summer following a road accident, but, although he is no longer with us, the MotoGP world championship, in particular Jorge Martinez, has decided to pay him one last tribute, changing the name of his team from Aspar Team to Angel Nieto Team.

Martinez and Nieto were great rivals, but off the track they managed to establish an excellent and sincere friendship. The change which will not only concern the name, in fact, Gelete Nieto, the eldest son of the 12+1 times world champion, will enter the team as team principal and will be in charge of the search for young talents to bring to the premier class.

This is a sort of homecoming for Gelete, given that the Spaniard raced with the team of the 4-time world champion from 1993 to 1997

These are the words of Jorge “Aspar” Martinez: “Ángel Nieto is synonymous with motorcycling, a sport that gave him so much and to which he also gave so much. Motorcycling is what it is in Spain thanks to the man who laid the first stone and we want to pay homage to him by renaming our team Ángel Nieto Team.

Ángel Nieto was the reason why so many Spaniards, including myself, his children and many others, dedicated their lives to motorcycling to the point of winning championships. Thanks to him, we have the best fans in the world. Ángel will live forever, he will never leave our hearts and with this gesture he will be even more in our minds as we continue to produce champions and keep the flame of our passion for the sport alive.”

The son of the multiple world champion, Gelete Nieto, said: “I took my first steps in racing with Jorge Martínez 'Aspar', he guided me to the top step of the podium in the European and Spanish championships. He has always been an important person for our family and at his side I am now about to start a new chapter in my professional life in a team that will bear the name of my father, who in 2016 celebrated his 50th season in the championship of the world and I'm sure he would have liked to run for a little longer. Motorcycles were his life and through this team, my father will remain in touch with his great passion."