The Aspar team will be renamed after Ángel Nieto in honour of the Spanish rider who passed away earlier this year, meanwhile Nieto's eldest son, Gelete Nieto, joins as team principal to lead the project.
"Ángel Nieto is synonymous with motorcycle racing, a sport that gave him so much and to which he gave so much in return," said team owner Jorge Martínez "Aspar". "Motorcycle racing is what it is in Spain thanks to the man who laid the first stone and we want to pay homage to that fact by renaming our team the Ángel Nieto Team.
“You would always learn so much from being alongside him. Ángel helped so many people, me amongst others, and he was an important part of my life, as are his sons Gelete and Pablo and his nephew Fonsi. Ángel was particularly excited about this whole project.
"He trusted me to give Gelete his start in racing and he told me, 'I know that with you he will learn.' To be able to pay tribute to his memory and continue with this project in the hands of his eldest son, who was one of the first to ride for my team, gives me enormous pride."
Gelete competed with the Aspar Team from 1993 to 1997 and picked up a European Championship victory in Barcelona and another in the Spanish Championship at Jerez, as well as making 28 Grand Prix appearances.
“I took my first steps in racing with Jorge Martínez “Aspar”, he guided me to the top step of the podium in the European and Spanish Championships," explained Gelete Nieto. "He has always been an important person to our family and alongside him I am now about to start a new chapter of my professional life in a team that will carry the name of my father."
The Aspar team finished ninth in the overall 2017 standings with 107 points.
