There will never be anyone like Valentino Rossi’ – Aleix Espargaró

Aleix Espargaró is nearing the end of his MotoGP career, during which he has raced against some of the sport’s greatest riders, including Valentino Rossi, who is widely regarded as one of the all-time legends.

Speaking to AS, the Aprilia rider shared his thoughts on Il Dottore’s legacy, considering that even if future riders surpass his records, they will never match his impact: ‘Valentino marked an era, and there will never be anyone like him, not even if someone like [Pedro] Acosta or David Alonso comes along and wins 17 titles. The way Rossi did it was one of a kind’.

Rossi retired at the end of 2021, leaving behind a massive fanbase that followed him over his 25-year career, during which he won eight world championships (six in the premier class). Today, he races in car racing, competing with BMW in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Over his own career, Espargaró has also had the opportunity to race against other top riders, including Marc Márquez, who he holds in the highest regard: ‘To me, if he’s not the best rider in history, he’s close to it. What he has achieved, how he did it, and the challenges he faced with his injury – what he is done is incredible’.