The excitement of getting to a new venue hits the paddock this weekend as France welcomes JuniorGP™ with open arms.
The excitement of getting to a new venue hits the paddock this weekend as France welcomes JuniorGP™ with open arms.A new venue welcomes the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship in 2025 as the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours gears up to welcome some of the hottest prospects in motorcycle racing. A sole JuniorGP™ class outing is flanked by two Moto2™ European Championship races, two European Talent Cup duels as well as an European Stock™ Championship battle; the gaps at the top of the standings oscillated last time out at Jerez across all class so will Magny-Cours provide a surprise on its debut?
FIM JuniorGP
Behind the top three and it’s close in JuniorGP™; Malaysian star Hakim Danish (SIC Racing MSI) is just one point behind Zanni in the standings and a mere two ahead of Jesus Rios (Finetwork Mir Racing Team) who rounds out the top five after his double podium last time out. There’s then a ten point gap back to P6 and Giulio Pugliese (CFMOTO Aspar Junior Team), who is one point ahead of teammate Joel Esteban. Of those top seven riders, Zanni, Danish and Pugliese all chase a first win in the class.
After a sole race last time out, it’s a double billing of JuniorGP™ action this weekend at Jerez; a circuit of many first-time winners in the past – such as Championship leader Brian Uriarte (UAX SeventyTwo ARTBOX) last year – does more of the same lie ahead? Uriarte took a dominant victory in the tricky conditions of Estoril back in May, with the #51 asserting himself in fine style ahead of Hakim Danish (SIC Racing MSI), who took a first podium in the class after a solid rookie season in 2024. Just five points split them, with a further four back to Finnish star Rico Salmela (Estrella Galicia 0,0), taking a second career podium in the class. Besides Uriarte last year, Malaysian star Danish and 17-year-old Salmela haven’t had strong results in the class at Jerez, although Danish was P2 in ETC back in 2022.
Moto2 European Championship
A double billing in store for the Moto2™ ECh at Magny-Cours and coming to the iconic French circuit, the Boscoscuros are the machines to beat. Unai Orradre (Team Ciatti-Boscoscuro) has a 28-point lead over Francesco Mongiardo (Fau 55 TEY Racing), who dropped points last time out at Jerez. 6 points further adrift, Alberto GV rRaing)) – a winner at Estoril but just tenth at Jerez last time out. Orradre’s form has seen him inside the top two in every race so far this year, a stat he’ll be keen to maintain.
European Talent Cup
The ETC never disappoints and 2025 has seen some of the biggest stories already in the opening three rounds. Leading the standings to Magny-Cours, 2025’s break-out star Alex Longarela (Snipers AGAX Team) seeks an extension to his Championship leader, currently at 22 points. On the podium in every race thus far and a winner for the time at Jerez, will he be able to keep reigning Champion Carlos Cano (SeventyTwo Artbox Racing Team) and Alvaro Lucas (CFMOTO Aspar Junior Team) at bay? Fernando Bujosa (AC Racing Team) is the fourth different winner in as many races in 2025 – is a fifth on the horizon in France?
Stock European Championship
Stock™ is the closest Championship in the paddock at the moment with just nine points splitting Borja Gomez (Team Honda Laglisse) and Iker Garcia (Yamaha GC Racing), the two winners so far this year. Five points behind Garcia is third-placed Archie McDonald (PS Racing Team), who took a first podium of 2025 last time out and now wants to add his name to the winners’ list.
Sunday 6th July race schedule at Magny-Cours:
11:00 – Moto2™ ECh Race 1: 15 laps
12:00 – ETC Race 1: 14 laps
13:00 – JuniorGP™ Race: 15 laps
14:00 – Moto2™ ECh Race 2: 15 laps
15:00 – ETC Race 2: 14 laps
16:00 – Stock™: 14 laps
For more info checkout our dedicated FIM JuniorGP™ news page superbike-news.co.uk/cev-repsol/
You can also find all the results, videos, photos and information regarding the championship on the official website: www.fimjuniorgp.com/en
