Aspar Team return to Ducati, the factory with which they made their MotoGP debut
After six years in the premier class, the Valencia squad join up with the manufacturer with which they began their MotoGP adventure
After being a reference point in the smaller GP categories, and winning a variety of world championships, in 2010 the Aspar Team confirmed they would extend their efforts to become the biggest team in the world championships – setting up a MotoGP squad alongside Ducati. The Valencia-based team enjoyed two great years, picking up vast experience in the elite class with the Borgo Panigale constructor. After six more years racing, the Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’-led team have picked up a wealth of knowledge and have had lots of success.
Six years on from their MotoGP debut with Ducati, and after working with other factories, the Aspar Team have now decided to join up with the Italian manufacturer once again in 2016. Memories of the perfect harmony between the two parties in those first couple of MotoGP seasons (2010 and 2011) tipped the balance for the Aspar Team to join forces with Ducati once more. The Spanish team will continue to field two bikes and two riders in MotoGP, Yonny Hernández and Eugene Laverty.
Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’: “Our first two years in MotoGP, 2010 and 2011, were quite positive alongside Ducati. That was before the arrival of the CRT bikes, where we enjoyed lots of success. Throughout our time so far in MotoGP we have worked with Ducati, Aprilia and Honda. Now we return to Ducati, and without a doubt I am expecting we will have competitive bikes and great riders capable of scoring the kinds of results we deserve, which is inside the top ten. Ducati have made big changes in recent times, in particular in their racing department in the hands of Gigi Dall’Igna. He’s someone we have had an excellent relationship with for 20 years now. I have complete faith in his abilities, and that is definitely one of the reasons we have decided to work with Ducati once more in the future.”
Luigi Dall’Igna: “We are very pleased to welcome the Aspar Team once again to the Ducati family. I have known Jorge for many years and I worked together with his team in 125 and 250 in the past, achieving many important results. We will provide competitive bikes and technical support to the team, with the aim of helping the two riders to reach the results they are aiming for. Thanks to the agreement with the Aspar Team there will be eight riders on Ducati Desmosedici bikes in the Championship next year, and this shows that the increased competitiveness of our bikes is now a reality recognized in the MotoGP paddock.”