The Mallorcan pilot has led a motorcyclist caravan through the streets of Palma de Mallorca
The Moto3 champion has been received by the president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, who has praised his “sporting values”
Fans and representatives of the public institutions of the Balearic Islands turned out this Saturday to pay a warm and emotional tribute in Palma to the Moto3 world champion, the 18-year-old Mallorcan Izan Guevara (GasGas).
The Balearic pilot led a motorcyclist caravan that started from the headquarters of the Sports Technification Center of the Balearic Islands and toured several central streets of the city escorted by agents of the Local and National Police.
It was followed by a double-decker bus decorated with photos alluding to the feat starring the third Majorcan rider to climb to the top of the world motorcycling podium in recent years after Jorge Lorenzo and Joan Mir.
A hundred people awaited the arrival of Izan, his relatives, friends and members of the Aspar Team, former driver and four-time world champion Jorge Martínez “Aspar”, at the Consolat de la Mar, headquarters of the Balearic Government, where he was received the president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol.
After signing autographs and taking pictures with his followers, the world champion received several gifts from the Government’s Director of Sports, Carles Gonyalons, the Minister of Social Affairs and Sports, Fina Santiago, and the president of the Balearic Federation of Motorcycling, Rafael Canellas.
“For us it is a great pride and very exciting to welcome you here as world champion. You deserve it for your work and commitment. You are an example of values, not just sports, and I am glad that this small land continues to produce magnificent athletes”, Armengol said.
“At 3 years old you were already on a motorcycle, at 6 you were already participating in competitions, and now you are the Moto3 world champion; I also remember Jorge Lorenzo, Joan Mir, and hopefully the next one will be Augusto Fernandez (Moto2). For this reason, we must be grateful for the enormous work that the Balearic Islands’ sports modernization center is carrying out,” added the head of the regional executive.
Izan, for his part, remarked in his brief words of thanks that Mallorca is his “home”.
“I am happy for this reception that I have had in my city; thanks to my family, because without them all this would have been impossible, and also thanks to the organizers of this tribute,” said the Balearic pilot.
Izan Guevara is the seventh Spaniard to win a world title in the history of the Moto3 category, after Maverick Viñales, Álex Márquez, Joan Mir, Jorge Martín, Albert Arenas and Pedro Acosta.
He is also the fifth youngest world champion in history, at 18 years and 110 days, beating the Italian Valentino Rossi (18 years and 196 days).
He signed a historic season to celebrate the world title: he won the great prizes of Spain, Catalonia, Germany, Aragon, Japan and Australia; he finished on the podium in Indonesia, France, Italy, the Netherlands and San Marino and scored points in all races except Argentina and Great Britain.