Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is a motorcycle racing series contested by young, up-and-coming motorcycle riders, who have not had experience in a motorcycle grand prix previously. The class was founded in 2007, and since then a number of the rookies have progressed through to the 125cc/Moto3 championship in MotoGP.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
CategoryMotorcycle sport
RegionEurope
Inaugural season2007
Riders' championSpain Ángel Piqueras
Official websitewww.redbullrookiescup.com
Current season

Prior to the 2013 season, a 2-stroke KTM RC 125cc engine was used. The year 2013 saw a change of machinery to the 4-stroke KTM RC250RBR, following the introduction of the four-stroke Moto3 class.[1]

The Spaniard José Antonio Rueda was the first racer to win the Cup title and his first World Championship title in the same year (2022).The Spaniard Ángel Piqueras was the second racer to win the Cup title and his first World Championship title in the same year (2023).

Twenty ex Rookies have gone on to win a world championship as of 2023:

RiderWorld championship
France Johann Zarco2015 Moto2, 2016 Moto2
United Kingdom Danny Kent2015 Moto3
Italy Lorenzo Savadori2015 Superstock 1000
South Africa Brad Binder2016 Moto3
Spain Marc García2017 Supersport 300
Spain Joan Mir2017 Moto3, 2020 MotoGP
Spain Jorge Martín2018 Moto3
France Alan Techer2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship
Australia Joshua Hook2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship, 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship
Spain Raúl Fernández2018 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior
Spain Izan Guevara2020 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior, 2022 Moto3
Italy Enea Bastianini2020 Moto2
Spain Adrián Huertas2021 Supersport 300
Spain Pedro Acosta2021 Moto3, 2023 Moto2
Turkey Toprak Razgatlıoğlu2021 Superbike
Spain Daniel Holgado2021 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior
Spain José Antonio Rueda2022 FIM JuniorGP
Spain Ángel Piqueras2023 FIM JuniorGP
Czech Republic Karel Hanika2023 FIM Endurance World Championship
Spain Jaume Masià2023 Moto3

So far, ten ex Rookie riders have started a race in the MotoGP class as of 2022 (active riders in bold):

RiderFirst race weekend in MotoGPFirst pole position in MotoGPFirst podium in MotoGPFirst win in MotoGPRace StartsTeams
France Johann ZarcoQatar Qatar 2017Netherlands Netherlands 2017France France 2017 (GP - 2nd) Australia Australia 2023 (GP) 123 (GP) France Tech3 Racing (2017-18)
Austria KTM Factory Racing (2019)
Monaco LCR Team (2019)
Spain Esponsorama Racing (2020)
Italy Pramac Racing (2021-)
No podiums (S) No wins (S) 18 (S)
Spain Joan MirQatar Qatar 2019No polesAustria Austria 2020 (GP - 2nd) Europe Europe 2020 (GP) 80 (GP) Japan Team Suzuki Ecstar (2019-22)
Japan Repsol Honda (2023-)
No podiums (S) No wins (S) 16 (S)
Portugal Miguel OliveiraQatar Qatar 2019Portugal Portugal 2020Styria Styria 2020 (GP - 1st) Styria Styria 2020 (GP) 84 (GP) France Tech3 Racing (2019-20)
Austria KTM Factory Racing (2021-22)
Malaysia RNF MotoGP Racing (2023-)
No podiums (S) No wins (S) 16 (S)
South Africa Brad BinderSpain Spain 2020No polesCzech Republic Czechia 2020 (GP - 1st) Czech Republic Czechia 2020 (GP) 70 (GP) Austria KTM Factory Racing (2020-)
Argentina Argentina 2023 (S - 1st) Argentina Argentina 2023 (S) 18 (S)
Italy Lorenzo SavadoriEurope Europe 2020No polesNo podiumsNo wins21 (GP) Italy Gresini Racing (2019-20) (Test Rider)
Italy Gresini Racing (2020-21)
Italy Aprilia Factory Racing (2022-) (Test Rider)
4 (S)
Italy Enea BastianiniQatar Qatar 2021Austria Austria 2022San Marino San Marino 2021 (GP - 3rd) Qatar Qatar 2022 (GP) 48 (GP) Spain Esponsorama Racing (2021)
Italy Gresini Racing (2022)
Italy Ducati Corse (2023-)
No podiums (S) No wins (S) 11 (S)
Spain Jorge MartínQatar Qatar 2021Qatar Doha 2021Qatar Doha 2021 (GP - 3rd) Styria Styria 2021 (GP) 53 (GP) Italy Pramac Racing (2021-)
Portugal Portugal 2023 (S - 2nd) France France 2023 (S) 18 (S)
South Africa Darryn BinderQatar Qatar 2022No polesNo podiumsNo wins20 (GP) Malaysia RNF MotoGP Racing (2022)
0 (S)
Italy Fabio Di GiannantonioQatar Qatar 2022Italy Italy 2022Australia Australia 2023 (GP - 3rd) Qatar Qatar 2023 (GP) 39 (GP) Italy Gresini Racing (2022-)
Qatar Qatar 2023 (S - 2nd) No wins (S) 18 (S)
Spain Raúl FernándezQatar Qatar 2022No polesNo podiumsNo wins36 (GP) France Tech3 Racing (2022)
Malaysia RNF MotoGP Racing (2023-)
17 (S)
  • Data correct as of November 19 2023

Scoring system edit

Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  11th  12th  13th  14th  15th 
Points252016131110987654321
  • Each rider's lowest score discounted. (2007-08 Only)

Bike Spec edit

Rookies Cup KTM RC250RBR Technical Details[2]
ManufacturerKTM
ConfigurationSingle-cylinder
Displacement249.5 ccm
Combustion4-stroke
Valve TrainDOHC
Power Outputmin. 37 kilowatts (50 hp) at 13.000 rpm
Rev Limit13,500 rpm
Tank Capacity~11 liters
FrameTubular steel with adjustable headstock and swing arm pivot
Dry Weightapprox. 80.5 kg
SuspensionFrontRear
WP / DM 35 mm, RCMA3548WP / BAVP 4618, adjustable length, hydraulic preload
RimsFrontRear
OZ Forged Aluminium 2.5 x 17OZ Forged Aluminium 3.5 x 17
TiresFrontRear
Dunlop 95/70-17Dunlop 115/70-17
BrakesFrontRear
Brembo Radial caliper, 290 mm GALFER single floating Disc Wave® rotorFormula brake system, 190mm GALFER fixed Disc Wave® rotor

Results edit

SeasonRacesChampionPointsRunner UpPointsThird placePoints
20078 Johann Zarco159 Lorenzo Savadori102 Matthew Hoyle96
200810 J. D. Beach149 Luis Salom145 Sturla Fagerhaug142
20098 Jakub Kornfeil132 Sturla Fagerhaug130 Daijiro Hiura104
201010 Jacob Gagne170 Danny Kent164 Daijiro Hiura125
201114 Lorenzo Baldassarri208 Arthur Sissis199 Alan Techer162
201215 Florian Alt233 Scott Deroue177 Karel Hanika162
201314 Karel Hanika235 Jorge Martín163 Stefano Manzi154
201414 Jorge Martín254 Joan Mir197 Stefano Manzi193
201513 Bo Bendsneyder243 Fabio Di Giannantonio194 Ayumu Sasaki161
201613 Ayumu Sasaki250 Aleix Viu201 Raúl Fernández195
201713 Kazuki Masaki194 Aleix Viu183 Can Öncü165
201812 Can Öncü235 Deniz Öncü192 Xavier Artigas166
201912 Carlos Tatay194 Pedro Acosta162 Haruki Noguchi151
202012 Pedro Acosta214 David Muñoz150 Iván Ortolá150
202114 David Alonso248 David Muñoz211 Daniel Holgado190
202214 José Antonio Rueda224 Collin Veijer210 Máximo Quiles189
202314 Ángel Piqueras318 Álvaro Carpe203 Máximo Quiles167

Records edit

DescriptionRecordDetails
Most race wins (total)11 wins Ángel Piqueras (2022 - 2023)
Most race wins in a season9 wins Ángel Piqueras (2023)
Most consecutive race wins6 wins Pedro Acosta (2020)
Most podium finishes (total)17 podiums Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013)
Can Öncü (2017 - 2018)
Most podium finishes in a season11 podiums Ayumu Sasaki (2016)
Most consecutive podium finishes10 podiums Can Öncü (2018)
Most points (total)417 points Jorge Martín (2013 - 2014)
Most points in a season254 points Jorge Martín (2014)
Most pole positions (total)10 pole positions Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013)
Most pole positions in a season6 pole positions Karel Hanika (2013)

References edit

  1. ^ "Rookies Cup Future Champions Wanted". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. ^ "The Rookies Cup Bike". Red Bull. 2015-01-01.

External links edit