Four-time world champions Stefan Dörflinger and Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez will be inducted as MotoGP Legends this year.
Dorflinger, back-to-back 50cc world champion in 1982 and 1983 before becoming the first-ever 80cc champion in 1984 and then again in 1985, will be welcomed at the German round (July 5-7) at Sachsenring.
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Fellow quadruple world champion Aspar, winner of the 80cc category title between 1986-88 plus the 125cc title in 1988, will receive the same honour at the 2019 finale in Valencia (November 15-17).
“I was overwhelmed when I heard the news I was to become a MotoGP Legend,” Dörflinger said. “I was very pleased, and very proud to join a group of such illustrious names.
“When I was racing, my favourite number was the number one. In our time, it was customary to have this number as a World Champion and I was fortunate enough to have that opportunity four times. To now become a Legend, as I said, is overwhelming, and I'm very proud to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Last week, the Valencian town of Alzira paid tribute to four-time world champion and current team owner Jorge Martínez 'Aspar' to mark 40 years in motorsport.
“It’s a great feeling of happiness,” Aspar said. “It was a big surprise when Carmelo Ezpeleta called me to tell me I was to be named a MotoGP Legend. The news was emotional because it puts me into a group of great riders. In addition, it’s the 40th anniversary of my first race so it’s a lot of good news and great memories all at once.
“The riders who are named MotoGP Legends are the best in the history of motorcycling and it’s incredible to become part of a group of almost mythical riders with such impressive awards like Angel Nieto, Mick Doohan, Giacomo Agostini, Nicky Hayden and so many others. It’s a feeling of real satisfaction.
“Stefan Dörflinger is older than me and when I arrived into the World Championship he was already a Champion. He was one of the rivals to beat, one of my objectives, but I have great memories of my relationship with him. He was very smooth, fast and elegant – a classy rider.”
Dörflinger and Martinez join a long list of MotoGP Legends: Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington, Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden.
