SPAIN ’ S DAVID ALONSO BUILDS ON HIS LEAD AFTER STYRIA RACES
The success of Moto3™ Championship leader Pedro Acosta is proof of the incredible level of the Red Bull Rookies Cup . The reigning Rookies champion has enjoyed a sensational start to life as a world championship level rider , scoring second and first places in his first two races . The second performance was all the more remarkable considering he started from pit lane .
Now , 26 of the world ’ s fastest teenagers from 16 different countries line up for this year ’ s 7-round series . The field of 2021 faced a double-header at Portimao , Portugal on 17th and 18th April and at Jerez Spain on 1st and 2nd May . Then it was a visit to the awesome Mugello , Italy on 29th and 30th of May , before the German Grand Prix hosted round four on 19th and 20th June . The Red Bull Ring , Austria hosted the first of two rounds back-to-back on 7th and 8th August and then 14th and 15th August before the season finale at Aragon on 11th and 12th September .
A host of names will be seeking to step up and take over from the space vacated by Acosta . Colombia ’ s David Alonso was seriously impressive in the Rookies Cup in 2020 , and started the season brilliantly , scoring a double victory in Portugal and further wins in Germany and Austria . He leads the championship after five rounds .
A talented band of Spaniards will provide stiff opposition , like the brothers David and Daniel Muñoz , and Ivan Ortola , all of whom scored very promising performances in the 2020 Rookies Cup . But David Muñoz looks like the pick of them and sits second overall thanks to a brilliant first and second place at Mugello , a first at Jerez and two further thirds at the Sachsenring and Red Bull Ring . Daniel Holgado is another strong contender , and scored an excellent second place in race two in Portugal before winning the second race in Jerez . He sits third in the standings .
Japan ’ s Sho Nishimura will be expected to kick on this year at 19 years of age , while the UK ’ s Scott Ogden is another name predicted to start challenging for regular race wins . And there is great anticipation around Asia Talent Cup star Taiyo Furusato , who scored a brilliant win at Mugello .
The class of 2021 has a truly international feel with the likes of Tatchakorn Buasri from Thailand , Mario Aji from Indonesia , Cormac Buchanan from New Zealand and Diogo Moreira from Brazil , who was second in the first race of the season , and scored a double podium finish in Jerez . He sits fifth overall after two rounds , behind Ortola .
This is the 15th running of the Red Bull Rookies Cup and once again each and every rider will have identical KTM RC 250 Rs to show off their talents . As recent Grand Prix have shown , the stars of tomorrow can be found competing here .
68 | Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup