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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.
| Category | Motorcycle sport |
|---|---|
| Region | Europe |
| Inaugural season | 2007 |
| Riders' champion |  Álvaro Carpe |
| Official website | www |
 Current season | |
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.[1]
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).
Twentytwo ex Rookies have gone on to win a world championship as of 2024:
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-) |
| 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 wins | 18 (GP) | Tech3 Racing (2024) |
| Spain 2024 (S - 2nd) |
19 (S) |
- Data correct as of November 8 2024
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)
| Rookies Cup KTM RC250RBR Technical Details[2] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | KTM | |
| Configuration | Single-cylinder | |
| Displacement | 249.5 ccm | |
| Combustion | 4-stroke | |
| Valve Train | DOHC | |
| Power Output | min. 37 kilowatts (50 hp) 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 | |
| Suspension | Front | Rear |
| WP / DM 35 mm, RCMA3548 | WP / BAVP 4618, adjustable length, hydraulic preload | |
| Rims | Front | Rear |
| OZ Forged Aluminium 2.5 x 17 | OZ Forged Aluminium 3.5 x 17 | |
| Tires | Front | Rear |
| Dunlop 95/70-17 | Dunlop 115/70-17 | |
| Brakes | Front | Rear |
| Brembo Radial caliper, 290 mm GALFER single floating Disc Wave® rotor | Formula brake system, 190mm GALFER fixed Disc Wave® rotor | |
| 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) |
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