MotoGP – Jorge 'Aspar' Martinez: plans to land in GP in 2009

Excellent driver in the past, today a successful entrepreneur. Much of Iberian motorcycling revolves around Jorge Martinez, "Aspar" to everyone. Owner of one of the most important teams in the entire MotoGP paddock (despite only being present in 125 and 250) with 40 employees, Martinez is the deus-ex-machina of Valencia's sporting activities: he, as councillor, first brought MotoGP to the Ricardo Tormo Autodrome and, from this year, Formula 1 to the city streets of the Spanish metropolis. Discoverer of talent, the man to whom Dorna has also relied for programs outside of two wheels, Martinez doesn't seem to stop. Indeed, he wants to strengthen and double the commitment of "Team Aspar" in the MotoGP. No longer just 125 and 250 as absolute protagonists: now we are thinking, planning and preparing the arrival in MotoGP from 2009. Nothing new on the Valencian front, just think that already last summer the Aspar team was very close to an agreement with Suzuki for the supply of a third GSV-R destined, in the intentions, to the now ex-pilot Alex De Angelis.

The plan fell through due to a different choice by Hamamatsu, intending to bring more bikes to the track, but since 2009, as clarified by Martinez himself in recent days during the "Pinguinos" event in Simancas (Valladolid). “We were ready for an agreement, but at the last minute the manufacturer with whom we were in contact for the supply of a motorbike was not available”, Martinez said. “We will definitely talk about it again in the future”.

Almost... immediate future, one might add. “Aspar”, which has spoken with all the manufacturers in recent months, will shortly announce its commitment to MotoGP from 2009. An announcement that could arrive during the IRTA Tests in Jerez or during the presentation of the Aspar team in Valencia in the next few weeks . Now it's just a matter of days to welcome a new team into the top class,
with a MotoGP destined to necessarily offer a grid of more than 20 units from next season.

Alessio Piana