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.
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.
The Rookies Cup staff include Rider Coaches August "Gustl" Auinger and Dani Ribalta with Peter Clifford being the Director of Rider Development and Media.
Alumni
World Champions
30 ex Rookies have gone on to win at least one World Championship as of 2026:
Rider World championship Johann Zarco 2015 Moto2, 2016 Moto2 Danny Kent 2015 Moto3 Lorenzo Savadori 2015 Superstock 1000 Brad Binder 2016 Moto3 Marc García 2017 Supersport 300 Joan Mir 2017 Moto3, 2020 MotoGP Jorge Martín 2018 Moto3, 2024 MotoGP Alan Techer 2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship Josh Hook 2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship, 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship Raúl Fernández 2018 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior Manuel González 2019 Supersport 300 Izan Guevara 2020 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior, 2022 Moto3 Enea Bastianini 2020 Moto2 Adrián Huertas 2021 Supersport 300, 2024 Supersport Pedro Acosta 2021 Moto3, 2023 Moto2 Toprak Razgatlıoğlu 2021 Superbike, 2024 Superbike, 2025 Superbike Daniel Holgado 2021 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior José Antonio Rueda 2022 FIM JuniorGP, 2025 Moto3 Ángel Piqueras 2023 FIM JuniorGP Karel Hanika 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship, 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship Jaume Masià 2023 Moto3 Mattia Casadei 2023 MotoE David Alonso 2024 Moto3 Ai Ogura 2024 Moto2 Álvaro Carpe 2024 FIM JuniorGP Stefano Manzi 2025 Supersport Beñat Fernández 2025 Supersport 300 Brian Uriarte 2025 FIM JuniorGP Diogo Moreira 2025 Moto2 Markus Reiterberger 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship
The Spaniards José Antonio Rueda, Ángel Piqueras, Álvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte have all won the Rookies Cup and the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship in the same year.
Moto GP riders
So far, 11 ex Rookie riders have started a race in the MotoGP class as of 2024 (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 Johann Zarco Qatar 2017 Netherlands 2017 France 2017 (GP - 2nd) Australia 2023 (GP) 143 (GP) Tech3 Racing (2017-18) KTM Factory Racing (2019) LCR Team (2019) Esponsorama Racing (2020) Pramac Racing (2021-2023) LCR Team (2024-) No podiums (S) No wins (S) 38 (S) Joan Mir Qatar 2019 No poles Austria 2020 (GP - 2nd) Europe 2020 (GP) 98 (GP) Team Suzuki Ecstar (2019-22) Repsol Honda (2023-) No podiums (S) No wins (S) 34 (S) Miguel Oliveira Qatar 2019 Portugal 2020 Styria 2020 (GP - 1st) Styria 2020 (GP) 98 (GP) Tech3 Racing (2019-20) KTM Factory Racing (2021-22) RNF MotoGP Racing (2023) Trackhouse Racing (2024-) No podiums (S) No wins (S) 30 (S) Brad Binder Spain 2020 No poles Czechia 2020 (GP - 1st) Czechia 2020 (GP) 90 (GP) KTM Factory Racing (2020-) Argentina 2023 (S - 1st) Argentina 2023 (S) 37 (S) Lorenzo Savadori Europe 2020 No poles No podiums No wins 21 (GP) Gresini Racing (2019-20) (Test Rider) Gresini Racing (2020-21) Aprilia Factory Racing (2022-) (Test Rider) 4 (S) Enea Bastianini Qatar 2021 Austria 2022 San Marino 2021 (GP - 3rd) Qatar 2022 (GP) 69 (GP) Esponsorama Racing (2021) Gresini Racing (2022) Ducati Corse (2023-) No podiums (S) No wins (S) 31 (S) Jorge Martín Qatar 2021 Doha 2021 Doha 2021 (GP - 3rd) Styria 2021 (GP) 73 (GP) Pramac Racing (2021-) Portugal 2023 (S - 2nd) France 2023 (S) 38 (S) Darryn Binder Qatar 2022 No poles No podiums No wins 20 (GP) RNF MotoGP Racing (2022) 0 (S) Fabio Di Giannantonio Qatar 2022 Italy 2022 Australia 2023 (GP - 3rd) Qatar 2023 (GP) 57 (GP) Gresini Racing (2022-2023) VR46 Racing Team (2024-) Qatar 2023 (S - 2nd) No wins (S) 36 (S) Raúl Fernández Qatar 2022 No poles No podiums No wins 58 (GP) Tech3 Racing (2022) RNF MotoGP Racing (2023) Trackhouse Racing (2024-) 37 (S) Pedro Acosta Qatar 2024 Japan 2024 Portugal 2024 (GP - 3rd)No wins18 (GP) Tech3 Racing (2024) Spain 2024 (S - 2nd)19 (S)
Data correct as of November 8 2024
Scoring system
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 Points252016131110987654321
Each rider's lowest score discounted. (2007-08 Only)
Bike Spec Rookies Cup KTM RC250RBR Technical Details Manufacturer KTM Configuration Single-cylinder Displacement 249.5 ccm Combustion 4-stroke Valve Train DOHC Power Output min. 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 SuspensionFrontRearWP / DM 35 mm, RCMA3548WP / BAVP 4618, adjustable length, hydraulic preload RimsFrontRearOZ Forged Aluminium 2.5 x 17 OZ Forged Aluminium 3.5 x 17 TiresFrontRearDunlop 95/70-17Dunlop 115/70-17 BrakesFrontRearBrembo Radial caliper, 290 mm GALFER single floating Disc Wave® rotorFormula brake system, 190mm GALFER fixed Disc Wave® rotor
Results 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 2024 14 Álvaro Carpe 232 Brian Uriarte 230 Valentín Perrone 206 2025 14 Brian Uriarte 236 Veda Pratama 181 Hakim Danish 171 2026 14 Beñat Fernández 175 Fernando Bujosa 170 Ryota Ogiwara 159
Records DescriptionRecordDetailsMost race wins (total)11 wins Ángel Piqueras (2022 - 2023)Most race wins in a season9 wins Ángel Piqueras (2023)Most consecutive race wins6 wins Pedro Acosta (2020)Most podium finishes (total)17 podiums Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013) Can Öncü (2017 - 2018)Most podium finishes in a season11 podiums Ayumu Sasaki (2016)Most consecutive podium finishes10 podiums Can Öncü (2018)Most points (total)417 points Jorge Martín (2013 - 2014)Most points in a season254 points Jorge Martín (2014)Most pole positions (total)10 pole positions Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013) Most pole positions in a season6 pole positions Karel Hanika (2013)
References
External links Official Site