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:

Rider World championship
France Johann Zarco 2015 Moto2, 2016 Moto2
United Kingdom Danny Kent 2015 Moto3
Italy Lorenzo Savadori 2015 Superstock 1000
South Africa Brad Binder 2016 Moto3
Spain Marc García 2017 Supersport 300
Spain Joan Mir 2017 Moto3, 2020 MotoGP
Spain Jorge Martín 2018 Moto3
France Alan Techer 2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship
Australia Joshua Hook 2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship, 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship
Spain Raúl Fernández 2018 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior
Spain Izan Guevara 2020 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior, 2022 Moto3
Italy Enea Bastianini 2020 Moto2
Spain Adrián Huertas 2021 Supersport 300
Spain Pedro Acosta 2021 Moto3, 2023 Moto2
Turkey Toprak Razgatlıoğlu 2021 Superbike
Spain Daniel Holgado 2021 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior
Spain José Antonio Rueda 2022 FIM JuniorGP
Spain Ángel Piqueras 2023 FIM JuniorGP
Czech Republic Karel Hanika 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship
Spain Jaume Masià 2023 Moto3

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

Rider First race weekend in MotoGP First pole position in MotoGP First podium in MotoGP First win in MotoGP Race Starts Teams
France Johann Zarco Qatar Qatar 2017 Netherlands Netherlands 2017 France 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 Mir Qatar Qatar 2019 No poles Austria 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 Oliveira Qatar Qatar 2019 Portugal Portugal 2020 Styria 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 Binder Spain Spain 2020 No poles Czech 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 Savadori Europe Europe 2020 No poles No podiums No wins 21 (GP) Italy Gresini Racing (2019-20) (Test Rider)
Italy Gresini Racing (2020-21)
Italy Aprilia Factory Racing (2022-) (Test Rider)
4 (S)
Italy Enea Bastianini Qatar Qatar 2021 Austria Austria 2022 San 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 Martín Qatar Qatar 2021 Qatar Doha 2021 Qatar 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 Binder Qatar Qatar 2022 No poles No podiums No wins 20 (GP) Malaysia RNF MotoGP Racing (2022)
0 (S)
Italy Fabio Di Giannantonio Qatar Qatar 2022 Italy Italy 2022 Australia 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 Fernández Qatar Qatar 2022 No poles No podiums No wins 36 (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 
Points 25 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
  • Each rider's lowest score discounted. (2007-08 Only)

Bike Spec edit

Rookies Cup KTM RC250RBR Technical Details[2]
Manufacturer KTM
Configuration Single-cylinder
Displacement 249.5 ccm
Combustion 4-stroke
Valve Train DOHC
Power Output min. 37 kilowatts (50 hp) at 13.000 rpm
Rev Limit 13,500 rpm
Tank Capacity ~11 liters
Frame Tubular steel with adjustable headstock and swing arm pivot
Dry Weight approx. 80.5 kg
Suspension Front Rear
WP / DM 35 mm, RCMA3548 WP / BAVP 4618, adjustable length, hydraulic preload
Rims Front Rear
OZ Forged Aluminium 2.5 x 17 OZ Forged Aluminium 3.5 x 17
Tires Front Rear
Dunlop 95/70-17 Dunlop 115/70-17
Brakes Front Rear
Brembo Radial caliper, 290 mm GALFER single floating Disc Wave® rotor Formula brake system, 190mm GALFER fixed Disc Wave® rotor

Results edit

Season Races Champion Points Runner Up Points Third place Points
2007 8   Johann Zarco 159   Lorenzo Savadori 102   Matthew Hoyle 96
2008 10   J. D. Beach 149   Luis Salom 145   Sturla Fagerhaug 142
2009 8   Jakub Kornfeil 132   Sturla Fagerhaug 130   Daijiro Hiura 104
2010 10   Jacob Gagne 170   Danny Kent 164   Daijiro Hiura 125
2011 14   Lorenzo Baldassarri 208   Arthur Sissis 199   Alan Techer 162
2012 15   Florian Alt 233   Scott Deroue 177   Karel Hanika 162
2013 14   Karel Hanika 235   Jorge Martín 163   Stefano Manzi 154
2014 14   Jorge Martín 254   Joan Mir 197   Stefano Manzi 193
2015 13   Bo Bendsneyder 243   Fabio Di Giannantonio 194   Ayumu Sasaki 161
2016 13   Ayumu Sasaki 250   Aleix Viu 201   Raúl Fernández 195
2017 13   Kazuki Masaki 194   Aleix Viu 183   Can Öncü 165
2018 12   Can Öncü 235   Deniz Öncü 192   Xavier Artigas 166
2019 12   Carlos Tatay 194   Pedro Acosta 162   Haruki Noguchi 151
2020 12   Pedro Acosta 214   David Muñoz 150   Iván Ortolá 150
2021 14   David Alonso 248   David Muñoz 211   Daniel Holgado 190
2022 14   José Antonio Rueda 224   Collin Veijer 210   Máximo Quiles 189
2023 14   Ángel Piqueras 318   Álvaro Carpe 203   Máximo Quiles 167

Records edit

Description Record Details
Most race wins (total) 11 wins   Ángel Piqueras (2022 - 2023)
Most race wins in a season 9 wins   Ángel Piqueras (2023)
Most consecutive race wins 6 wins   Pedro Acosta (2020)
Most podium finishes (total) 17 podiums   Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013)
  Can Öncü (2017 - 2018)
Most podium finishes in a season 11 podiums   Ayumu Sasaki (2016)
Most consecutive podium finishes 10 podiums   Can Öncü (2018)
Most points (total) 417 points   Jorge Martín (2013 - 2014)
Most points in a season 254 points   Jorge Martín (2014)
Most pole positions (total) 10 pole positions   Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013)
Most pole positions in a season 6 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