# Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

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.
The Spaniard José Antonio Rueda was the first racer to win the Cup title and his first World Championship title in the same year (2022). The Spaniard Ángel Piqueras was the second racer to win the Cup title and his first World Championship title in the same year (2023). The Spaniard Álvaro Carpe was the third racer to win the Cup title and his first World Championship title in the same year (2024).
Twentythree ex Rookies have gone on to win a world championship as of 2024:
| 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 |
| Joshua Hook | 2017–18 FIM Endurance World Championship, 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship |
| Raúl Fernández | 2018 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior |
| 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 |
| Daniel Holgado | 2021 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior |
| José Antonio Rueda | 2022 FIM JuniorGP |
| Ángel Piqueras | 2023 FIM JuniorGP |
| Karel Hanika | 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship |
| Jaume Masià | 2023 Moto3 |
| David Alonso | 2024 Moto3 |
| Ai Ogura | 2024 Moto2 |
| Álvaro Carpe | 2024 FIM JuniorGP |
So far, eleven 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-) |
| Johann Zarco | Qatar 2017 | Netherlands 2017 | No podiums (S) | No wins (S) | 38 (S) | Tech3 Racing (2017-18) KTM Factory Racing (2019) LCR Team (2019) Esponsorama Racing (2020) Pramac Racing (2021-2023) LCR Team (2024-) |
| Joan Mir | Qatar 2019 | No poles | Austria 2020 (GP - 2nd) | Europe 2020 (GP) | 98 (GP) | Team Suzuki Ecstar (2019-22) Repsol Honda (2023-) |
| Joan Mir | Qatar 2019 | No poles | No podiums (S) | No wins (S) | 34 (S) | Team Suzuki Ecstar (2019-22) Repsol Honda (2023-) |
| 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-) |
| Miguel Oliveira | Qatar 2019 | Portugal 2020 | No podiums (S) | No wins (S) | 30 (S) | Tech3 Racing (2019-20) KTM Factory Racing (2021-22) RNF MotoGP Racing (2023) Trackhouse Racing (2024-) |
| Brad Binder | Spain 2020 | No poles | Czechia 2020 (GP - 1st) | Czechia 2020 (GP) | 90 (GP) | KTM Factory Racing (2020-) |
| Brad Binder | Spain 2020 | No poles | Argentina 2023 (S - 1st) | Argentina 2023 (S) | 37 (S) | KTM Factory Racing (2020-) |
| 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) |
| Lorenzo Savadori | Europe 2020 | No poles | No podiums | No wins | 4 (S) | Gresini Racing (2019-20) (Test Rider) Gresini Racing (2020-21) Aprilia Factory Racing (2022-) (Test Rider) |
| 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-) |
| Enea Bastianini | Qatar 2021 | Austria 2022 | No podiums (S) | No wins (S) | 31 (S) | Esponsorama Racing (2021) Gresini Racing (2022) Ducati Corse (2023-) |
| Jorge Martín | Qatar 2021 | Doha 2021 | Doha 2021 (GP - 3rd) | Styria 2021 (GP) | 73 (GP) | Pramac Racing (2021-) |
| Jorge Martín | Qatar 2021 | Doha 2021 | Portugal 2023 (S - 2nd) | France 2023 (S) | 38 (S) | Pramac Racing (2021-) |
| Darryn Binder | Qatar 2022 | No poles | No podiums | No wins | 20 (GP) | RNF MotoGP Racing (2022) |
| Darryn Binder | Qatar 2022 | No poles | No podiums | No wins | 0 (S) | RNF MotoGP Racing (2022) |
| Fabio Di Giannantonio | Qatar 2022 | Italy 2022 | Australia 2023 (GP - 3rd) | Qatar 2023 (GP) | 57 (GP) | Gresini Racing (2022-2023) VR46 Racing Team (2024-) |
| Fabio Di Giannantonio | Qatar 2022 | Italy 2022 | Qatar 2023 (S - 2nd) | No wins (S) | 36 (S) | Gresini Racing (2022-2023) VR46 Racing Team (2024-) |
| Raúl Fernández | Qatar 2022 | No poles | No podiums | No wins | 58 (GP) | Tech3 Racing (2022) RNF MotoGP Racing (2023) Trackhouse Racing (2024-) |
| Raúl Fernández | Qatar 2022 | No poles | No podiums | No wins | 37 (S) | Tech3 Racing (2022) RNF MotoGP Racing (2023) Trackhouse Racing (2024-) |
| Pedro Acosta | Qatar 2024 | Japan 2024 | Portugal 2024 (GP - 3rd) | No wins | 18 (GP) | Tech3 Racing (2024) |
| Pedro Acosta | Qatar 2024 | Japan 2024 | Spain 2024 (S - 2nd) | No wins | 19 (S) | Tech3 Racing (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 |
| Points | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
* Each rider's lowest score discounted. (2007-08 Only)

## Bike Spec

Rookies Cup KTM RC250RBR Technical Details :
| Manufacturer | KTM | KTM |
| Configuration | Single-cylinder | Single-cylinder |
| Displacement | 249.5 ccm | 249.5 ccm |
| Combustion | 4-stroke | 4-stroke |
| Valve Train | DOHC | DOHC |
| Power Output | min. 37 kilowatts (50 hp) at 13.000 rpm | min. 37 kilowatts (50 hp) at 13.000 rpm |
| Rev Limit | 13,500 rpm | 13,500 rpm |
| Tank Capacity | ~11 liters | ~11 liters |
| Frame | Tubular steel with adjustable headstock and swing arm pivot | Tubular steel with adjustable headstock and swing arm pivot |
| Dry Weight | approx. 80.5 kg | approx. 80.5 kg |
| Suspension | Front | Rear |
| Suspension | WP / DM 35 mm, RCMA3548 | WP / BAVP 4618, adjustable length, hydraulic preload |
| Rims | Front | Rear |
| Rims | OZ Forged Aluminium 2.5 x 17 | OZ Forged Aluminium 3.5 x 17 |
| Tires | Front | Rear |
| Tires | Dunlop 95/70-17 | Dunlop 115/70-17 |
| Brakes | Front | Rear |
| Brakes | Brembo Radial caliper, 290 mm GALFER single floating Disc Wave® rotor | Formula 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 |

## Records

| Description | Record | Details |
| Most race wins (total) | 11 wins | Ángel Piqueras (2022 - 2023) |
| Most race wins in a season | 9 wins | Ángel Piqueras (2023) |
| Most consecutive race wins | 6 wins | Pedro Acosta (2020) |
| Most podium finishes (total) | 17 podiums | Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013) Can Öncü (2017 - 2018) |
| Most podium finishes in a season | 11 podiums | Ayumu Sasaki (2016) |
| Most consecutive podium finishes | 10 podiums | Can Öncü (2018) |
| Most points (total) | 417 points | Jorge Martín (2013 - 2014) |
| Most points in a season | 254 points | Jorge Martín (2014) |
| Most pole positions (total) | 10 pole positions | Karel Hanika (2012 - 2013) |
| Most pole positions in a season | 6 pole positions | Karel Hanika (2013) |