MotoGP: Hometown pays tribute to Jorge Martinez Aspar

Jorge Martinez Aspar’s hometown of Alzira has paid tribute to the four-time world champion, taking to the streets of the Valencian town on Sunday to celebrate the former racer and current team boss’ 40 years of involvement in Grand Prix racing.

“This month marks 40 years of my first race and it is very nice to look back and be able to remember where I started, in towns such as Alzira, Guadassuar, Cullera or Xàtiva. It’s nice to look back and see everything we’ve achieved, to review my career from the 1979 Bultaco Streaker to the Aprilia of 1997. But I’m definitely staying with the 1986 Derbi, with which I won my first title,” he said.

Joined at the event by his current Grand Prix lineup of Albert Arenas, Raúl Fernández, Xavi Cardelús and Brit Jake Dixon, the 56-year old rode through the streets of the tow before taking to stage to talk about his career and to auction off items for a local charity.

Making his Grand prix debut in 1982, between 1986 and 1988 Martinez claimed a total of four world championship, three times in the 80cc event and once on a 125cc, doing the double in 1988 and winning both. After his competitive career had ended in 1997, he went on to create and manage the Mapfre Aspar Racing Team, renamed last year to the Angle Nieto Team in honour of his former mentor.