Aleix Espargaró retires from professional cycling after injuries hamper his ability to ride for Honda in 2025.
Honda Vikas rider Alex Espargaró has put his parallel cycling career on hold to focus on MotoGP testing. Espargaró retired from full-time racing at the end of 2024 and signed as a factory rider for Aprilia in the Solidarity Grand Prix at the end of the season. He then also took on a development role at Honda. He also worked for the Lidl-Trek professional motorcycle racing team . Announcement Espargaró made four wildcard appearances, as well as tests during 2025, but would have raced more without cycling injuries along the way. He had a plan to defend the Somakiyat mantra when the Thai rider was injured mid-season, but two consecutive injuries prevented him from doing so . In statements to the press at the Valencia Grand Prix, the Spaniard admitted that the Honda team director, Alberto Puig, intervened after Espargaró was unable to attend the Hungarian Grand Prix.