At the end of the 1960s motorbike racing was not particularly popular, but in the eyes of one seven year-old boy it was a world of magic and excitement. That was why the young Jorge looked up to his older brother and the other older lads riding their bikes in races, despite the peer pressure to focus elsewhere.
As a youngster Jorge escaped from home to hang around with those older lads and get close to the racing scene, and his determination was demonstrated by his participation in his first race in January 1979 – resulting in a second place finish on a hired Derbi bike at an urban racetrack.
The dream had started to become a reality. Jorge was an astute competitor despite having to change bikes regularly and being unable to complete a full championship season at first. That changed when he won his Spanish title in 1981 onboard a Bultaco bike he was loaned by someone who did a great deal to help him along the way: Ricardo Tormo.
As his career continued to develop over the following years, Jorge signed a contract with Metrakit and achieved his first World Championship podium. Things really stepped up a notch when he became a Derbi rider in 1984, commencing a strong partnership with the Rabasa family which formed Jorge both as a rider and a person.
Joining Derbi was like a dream come true, with sponsorship deals and attention from the press soon materialising… along with some great victories - his first win at the 1984 Grand Prix of Holland always remaining a special memory. Jorge imposed himself in the 80cc category, writing his name in the history books at the cathedral of motorcycle racing: Assen.
Having been contrated as Derbi’s second rider at first, Jorge was handed greater responsibility following the unfortunate accident suffered by his old friend Tormo, grabbing his opportunity with both hands as he went on to achieve success after success.
To win a Grand Prix is an amazing feeling, but to do it at home is an unforgettable experience, one which Jorge enjoyed at the Spanish GP at Jarama in 1985. The next year he took his first 80cc World title, retaining his crown in 86, 87 and 88, with the 88 success doubled up on with the 125cc World Championship title for good measure.
The 89 season was his last with Derbi and was a difficult campaign due to bad luck and injuries. The next season he embarked on a new project with JJ-Cobas with a Rotas engine, to compete in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Things did not go quite as well as hoped, but there were still two national titles and four Grand Prix wins to celebrate.
In 1991 Jorge continued riding for JJ-Cobas but with a Honda engine, though again things were not exactly as he wanted, which led to ‘Aspar’ starting his own team in 1992 in order to take complete control of his destiny. Putting all his efforts into this new project Jorge rode with an official Honda bike, supported by an excellent team and a big sponsor but results did not ultimately match expectations.
Some difficult years followed, and the backing he received was essential to his efforts being continued throughout seasons such as 1993, when he showed his brilliance sporadically in 250cc, despite his career re-focussing on the 125 scene.
In the 94 season he continued in the single cylinder category, starting a project with Yamaha which brought about further success, including his last Grand Prix win in Argentina.
Later the Aprilia era began and he took the European title before he retired from riding himself in 1997, to become the manager of his own team – using all his experience from a career spanning nearly two decades and showing the same enthusiasm he had as a child to drive the team forward.
His career has seen it all, from the small town races against friends rather than rivals, to the epic battles in the World Championship with the likes of Nieto, Criville, Capirossi, Alzamora and Rossi.
He is acknowledged as one of the most technically gifted riders of all time, with his sensitivity counterbalanced by a ruthless competitive streak which brought him so much success.
Jorge Martinez Salvadores ‘Aspar’ has witnessed generations of racing at circuits around the world and played a first hand role in the technical and professional development of the World Championship, as motorcycle racing has grown into one of the most watched and well respected sports in Spain.
Jorge Martinez “Aspar” was one of the pioneers of motorcycling in Spain and his legacy stretches well beyond the boundaries of a summarised biography. His successes were so many that it would be tedious to list them but it is impossible to ignore certain singular achievements, such as his 15 victories in the 1988 season (6 in 80cc and 9 in 125cc) and his amazing double wins on a single race day – a feat he managed on four separate occasions at Imola, Assen, Rijeka and Brno. It was another era and recent rule changes mean that Jorge was the last rider to achieve this feat, as well as that of winning two world titles in 1988.
His spectacular and combative riding style marked him out from the rest and on fourteen occasions it took him to pole, fastest lap and victory. In ten of these races the winning margin was by less than a second and he also lost by similar margins on a further seven occasions.
The podium was always his objective and, if possible, the top step but on the 43 occasions he didn’t quite make it there he always went home with the satisfaction of knowing that he was the first Spanish rider across the line.
His talent was recognised way beyond Spanish borders but “Aspar” was primarily lauded in his homeland, where he won a host of major awards:
*NATIONAL PRIZE FOR SPORT 1987. DON FELIPE DE BORBON TROPHY
*GOLD MEDAL OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF SPORTING MERIT
*SILVER MEDAL FROM THE CITY OF VALENCIA
*FAVOURITE SON OF THE TOWN OF ALZIRA
*GOLD MEDAL FROM THE GENERALITAT VALENCIANA FOR SPORTING MERIT
*GOLD MEDAL OF MOTORCYCLING MERIT FROM THE SPANISH FEDERATION