2022 MotoGP title contender Aleix Espargaro states that he won’t be able to follow Valentino Rossi’s footsteps

2022 MotoGP title contender Aleix Espargaro states that he won’t be able to follow Valentino Rossi’s footsteps

Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi

Aleix Espargaro was one of the key contenders for the 2022 MotoGP world championship title. Although he wasn’t able to accomplish his goal, his performance over the whole season was truly commendable. However, with age, there comes a time when every rider considers leaving the sport and that seems to have been the case for Espargaro.

Valentino Rossi left MotoGP after the 2021 season having accomplished everything. With The Doctor shifting from two wheels to four, Aleix Espargaro went on to become the oldest rider on the MotoGP grid. The Spaniard has a contract untill 2024 to ride with Aprilia’s Factory team. However, Espargaro is uncertain whether he will be able to continue in the sport after his contract with the team ends.

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Aleix Espargaro stated that it isn’t possible for a rider to continue in MotoGP after reaching the age of 35. In a sport that is dominated by young guns who are ready to risk it all, the Spaniard somewhat makes sense with his logic. They have nothing to lose while the old riders do not have that privilege. They can recover from injuries faster than those that are older.

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Aleix Espargaro will possibly leave MotoGP in 2 years

Aleix Espargaro
Aleix Espargaro

In an interview with motorsport-magazin.com, here is what the Spaniard had to say. “At the moment, I don’t see myself in MotoGP beyond 2024. What Valentino has done [by riding in the premier class until he’s 42] is great, but I don’t think I will have the strength. Let’s see how I feel then in 2024. However, I think that with the current calendars and the introduction of sprint races, it will be difficult to race longer than 35,” he stated.

“This is mainly for mental reasons. From that perspective, for example, the calendar for 2023 is completely cr*zy, especially the last part of the season. We will spend a lot of time away from home and when you are no longer 25, it is anything but easy,” Espargaro continued.

The 2022 MotoGP season was a rollercoaster for Aleix Espargaro. With Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia eventually winning the championship, it was a dramatic end to a very competitive season. However, things are looking good for the Spaniard as he comes into 2023 with a clear goal set in his mind. It will be interesting to see how he performs with Aprilia this season.

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