At 34 years old, Aleix Espargaró is the most seasoned among the current MotoGP riders. His debut in the premier category dates back to 2010, but it was only in 2012, after being in Moto2 in 2011, that he definitively joined the grid.
Before that, he achieved average results in the 125cc and 250cc World Championships. Despite nearing two decades in his career, his path could have been very different.
After the 2007 season, he was on the verge of being left without a place in the 250cc field before securing a seat with… Aprilia. In an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com, Espargaró recalled that tumultuous period:
– My worst experience was when I didn’t have a 250cc team in 2008 to continue racing in the Grand Prix. It was a very difficult time. I locked myself in the room, didn’t go out, didn’t want to see anyone.
In 2008, Espargaró had his best season in the 250cc, finishing 12th overall—a result he only surpassed later in MotoGP in 2013.