Being a rider isn’t forever, but staying linked to motorcycling can be if you don’t lose your passion. You just have to find the formula to enjoy it in a different way. This is the case of Nico Terol (Alcoi, September 27, 1988), who since hanging up his monkey has devoted himself to training pilots of Aspar Team becomes sports director of the group. The goal is nothing but to help new talents to achieve what he has become: world champion.
Just starting a phone conversation with Nico puts a name on the table to explain his transformation process: “Jorge (Aspar) gave me the opportunity to be part of the Junior team and find talent there to take them to the World Cup. One of them was David Alonso and from there I also made the jump to sports director. That Jorge has confidence in me to advise and manage it makes me happy,” he explained.
But before becoming a team director, part of the learning process involved training with the youngest players before heading to the World Cup. Is it a big change? “It’s changing because I’m just focusing on Junior sports and ultimately it’s more sustainable to have fewer drivers. Now you are in charge of everything. There is also human management along with mechanics. More trouble. But without leaving aside the issue of pilot management, which is what I do best. But there are more people, there’s also the issue of the budget but I’m slowly learning it well.”
The formula for success
A pilot does not come alone. Before reaching the top he met many people who contributed their share to the growth of the sport. But when you get to an established team, putting all the pieces together isn’t easy. That’s where Nico believes the key lies when we ask him what the most complicated thing is in dealing with drivers.
“Beyond the most difficult thing, I will tell you the most important thing, to have an environment that adds. A father is usually not objective. So the important thing, what I always try to instill, is that the racing team is the family. We want the best for them and they have to have a lot of faith in the team. One day the driver can make a mistake, another day the team can make a mistake. But there are more environments that fully trust the team than those that try to give advice and start making mistakes. A father is never objective and from the outside they have a different vision. First “You have to have talent but then I work on technique”
Despite the difficulty in training talent, the Aspar Team has always been characterized as being one of the best factories for champions like Álvaro Bautista, Julián Simón or Terol himself. The secret of this success lies in the fact that “Jorge’s priority is always the sporting side. That means having the best material, the best technician, the best advisor.…people who give 1000×1000 to make it happen.” Nico assured that without the human side of Aspar, who knows very well what it means to be a champion in the small categories, the numbers would not be as good as they are.. more than 150 World Cup victories and 6 more championships.
How does it feel to get off the bike?
Terol was one of the first Spanish talents to leave the competition. He was almost 30 years old when he decided to quit.. Despite this, he says he won’t miss it: “My time as a pilot, although I carry it within me, I fully assume that it has passed“. Today, he also admits that watching the bulls from the barrier suffers more: “Now from the barrier you have more time to think. On a motorcycle you are focused on what you have to do at all times. Now you suffer more and at the same time enjoy it. It’s exciting to see how goals are met”
Regarding the retirement, he also opens up without any type of qualms: “Well… it’s complicated. In 2013 I started winning races in Moto2, in 2014 I don’t feel good with the tires or the bike. To be honest, when I saw that they did not fit, I suffered mentally. All spinning and running for the sake of running as a world champion is the best thing to do. I was able to combine Junior with Endurance for a few years but I realized that my work was different. My passion and my dream is to be a pilot but the time will come my heart is 100% focused on the Aspar team to train the drivers“.
‘Their’ pilots
One of the names of the season in Moto3 is David Alonso, who despite being only 16, is stunning the world. The surprise of the paddock for Nico was not much, since the man from Alicante was the one who opted for the Colombian in the Junior.
“I trusted David a lot because I have him since his time in Junior. I saw what he can do and I know his talent. And apart from talent, he has many methods at work. He’s a brilliant kid, he’s a sponge. I know he is capable of a lot, but of course the admiration never ceases when he sees what he has achieved. If anyone can, it’s David. But I won’t lie to you that even he himself was surprised.”
The other side of the Aspar team coin is Izan Guevara, who after becoming Moto3 champion in 2022, is struggling more than expected in the intermediate category. Despite this, Terol is confident that the Mallorcan will change the situation: “Izan is not there yet. Moto2 is a very difficult category. He is a rider who, when he does not have everything, does not get the extra he deserves. He has him. I trusted because when he clicks, he clicks suddenly.”
Replace a sports director with as much experience Mr. Borsoi It’s not simple, but in 15 minutes of conversation it’s clear that Nico, in his experience as a driver, has not missed anything.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
