Future stars ready for Rookies Cup better Portimão record

Two record-breaking days of testing in perfect conditions at Portimão have prepared 26 of the world’s fastest teenagers for the 17th season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Aerodynamic updates on the KTM RC 250 Rs, taking details pioneered in the KTM MotoGP program and developed for the Moto3 World Championship bikes, perhaps helped the fastest of the Rookies break the lap record.

It was not just the returning gladiators who were on the pace, scotching any notion that there is any predictability about who will be battling for this year’s Cup. That will be decided over 14 races, starting at the Portuguese Grand Prix on March 25th.

Auinger impressed
“I must be getting old,” laughed rider coach Gustl Auinger. “I am just so impressed with these guys. It was wonderful to have a Selection Event again last year after we missed a couple of years. I was hopeful that we had seen some fast riders but I was sure it would take a few races before they got up to speed.”

Advertisement

“In the first session yesterday you could pick out the newcomers but by the second session, they were right there, looking as strong and running as fast as the second and third-year Rookies. Then at the end of the day, they are kicking a soccer ball around together and you know we’ve got another cool group of kids.”

Ribalta sees improvement
“I’m very pleased with the test,” stated rider coach Dani Ribalta. “Firstly I am impressed that we got here, the technical staff did an amazing job preparing all the bikes, completely overhauled, refreshed engines, new mapping with a stronger bottom-end and the riders can feel the improvement.”

“Several are under the lap record and some of the new guys are already very fast. We have been a lot luckier than we were last year with the dry weather and lack of wind. It gives us a great start to the season.”

Quiles as fast as last year

Màximo Quiles was 3rd in last year’s Cup and the highest-placed rider to return. “It’s great to be back on the KTM, I really enjoy it. You can feel that the bike is a little stronger than last year, the way it pulls over the hills here and wheelies out of the corners.”

“I took it easy at the start yesterday, got used to the bike again and pushed a bit harder today with new tyres. There are a lot of fast riders, it’s always the same in Rookies Cup.”

Casey O’Gorman, Red Bull Rookies Cup Portiamo test, 14 March 2023 // Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202303160470 // Usage for editorial use only //

Races
1&2 March 25-26 – Portimão (Portugal)
3&4 April 29-30 – Jerez (Spain)
5&6 May 13-14 – Le Mans (France)
7&8 June 10-11 – Mugello (Italy)
9&10 June 24-25 – Assen (Netherlands)
11&12 August 19-20 – Spielberg (Austria)
13&14 September 9-10 – Misano (Italy)

Entry List
2 Amaury Mizera (France)
5 Leo Rammerstorfer (Austria)
8 Eddie O‘Shea (Great Britain)
11 Ruché Moodley (South Africa)
12 Jacob Roulstone (Australia)
13 Hakim Danish (Malaysia)
14 Cormac Buchanan (New Zealand)
18 Angel Piqueras (Spain)
23 Rhys Stephenson (Great Britain)
25 Alexander Enriquez (United States)
27 Rico Salmela (Finland)
28 Máximo Quiles (Spain)
47 Edoardo Boggio (Italy)
50 Carter Thompson (Australia)
54 Alberto Ferrandez (Spain)
56 Kevin Farkas (Hungary)
57 Danial Shahril (Malaysia)
67 Casey O’Gorman (Ireland)
69 Marcos Ruda (Spain)
78 Jakob Rosenthaler (Austria)
81 Lorenz Luciano (Belgium)
83 Alvaro Carpe (Spain)
88 Shinya Ezawa (Japan)
93 Arbi Aditama (Indonesia)
94 Guido Pini (Italy)
95 Marco Chincolla (Argentina)

For more info checkout our dedicated Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup News page Rookies Cup News

Or visit the official Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup website rookiescup.redbull.com/

Frank Duggan

Recent Posts

Ryan Vickers takes on the World

Written by Kerrie McFadden

16 hours ago

WorldWCR test underway at Cremona, Neila fastest on Day 1

The WorldWCR 2025 grid gathered at Cremona for a two-day test ahead of their season…

17 hours ago

Aragón ignites Rookies Cup season

The 19th year of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup gets underway at Motorland Aragón…

17 hours ago

Four Classes To Join MotoAmerica Superbikes As The Season Begins In Earnest At Barber Motorsports Park

Motovation Supersport And Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. To Start Their Seasons In Alabama

18 hours ago

Ducati Desmo450 MX: the first motocross bike from the Borgo Panigale manufacturer

A historic day for the Borgo Panigale manufacturer: Ducati presents the Desmo450 MX, the first…

18 hours ago

This website uses cookies.