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You were probably surprised to see two Aleix Espargaros on track at the end of MotoGP’s Solidarity Grand Prix sprint. So was Espargaro. Here’s the story behind the stunt
During the Solidarity Grand Prix sprint in MotoGP, Aleix Espargaro was surprised to see himself and a mystery rider dressed in his leathers riding his 2024 Aprilia and his 2005 Seedorf Racing Honda RS125 on the track. The idea for this special moment came from Espargaro’s wife, Laura, his rider assistant, Robert Galan, and his friend and former Moto2 rival, Ricky Cardus. Aprilia’s track analyst, Matteo Baiocco, stepped in to help make the surprise happen as he had experience riding both bikes. The surprise lap with both bikes was a way for Espargaro to symbolically close the circle of his successful racing career. The plan also took into consideration the possibility of Espargaro’s best friend, Jorge Martin, winning the 2024 MotoGP title. Despite the carefully planned surprise, Baiocco had to be extra cautious while riding Espargaro’s Aprilia to avoid any potential damage before Espargaro’s final race.
