SPAIN ’ S DANIEL HOLGADO LEADS THE PACK AFTER FOUR 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 that starts this weekend . 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 . Now they face Mugello , Italy on 29th and 30th of May , before travelling to the Sachsenring , Germany on 19th and 20th June , the Red Bull Ring , Austria on 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 . He sits second in the championship after just two 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 Daniel Holgado looks the pick of them however , and scored an excellent second place in race two in Portugal before winning the second race in Jerez . He leads the championship coming to Mugello .
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 .
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 Diego Moreira from Brazil , who was second in the first race of the season , and scored a double podium finish in Jerez . He sits third overall after two rounds .
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