The 2023 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship prepares for the third round after two first rounds at the Circuito Estoril and the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, in Portugal and Spain respectively.
From Valencia we head towards Andalusia as the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto awaits us with the potential of a landmark to reach. After coming close last time, the 100th different winner in the JuniorGP™ category, dating back under its former name of CEV to 1998, is now a very real possibility, and the iconic Jerez venue would be the perfect place to celebrate this, while the program includes two races for the JuniorGP™ and European Talent Cup categories, and one for the European Moto2™ Championship.
After waiting a long time and obtaining four podiums, a first victory in JuniorGP™ came last time for Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0), the Spaniard having not only won Race-1 but also achieved the double. The #18 has taken the lead in the Championship and has a lead of at least 26 points over its rivals. With a best result of third on the Andalusian circuit last year in Race-1, he is also the one who has a target on his back this weekend…
Its closest rival is the 2023 reveal, Jacob Roulstone (Aspar Junior Team), who demonstrated that he was ready to fight for victory by putting in a great performance in Valencia, where he obtained a fourth and a second place. On the podium in the other categories in Jerez, the Australian intends to continue his momentum from Valencia. Third place in the general classification goes to Luca Lunetta (AC Racing Team). After a podium in Race-1 in Valencia, will he be able to repeat his performance from last year in the top 6 in Jerez?
Nico Carraro (Aspar Junior Team), winner of the Estoril race, was at the front in Valencia but did not reach the podium, which he will try to do this weekend in Jerez. Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) is fifth in the general classification. After being in the fight for victory in race-1 in Valencia, mechanical problems prevented him from taking his first victory in the category in race-2. The highest-ranked rookie so far, 17, missed Jerez due to illness during last year's European Talent Cup races, so the learning curve will be steep for him this year.
Xabi Zurutuza (MTA Junior Team) completes the top 6 in the general classification. His consistency allowed him to achieve his first top 5 in the category during the last edition. It is also necessary to monitor Alvaro Carpe (STV Laglisse Racing), who reached the podium for the first time in Valencia, and Eddie O'Shea (British Talent Team), who reached the podium for the first time in Jerez in 2022 and occupy seventh and eighth places in the general classification. Among the aforementioned drivers, only Angel Piqueras et Nico Carraro are race winners: will we therefore be entitled to the 100th different winner?
French side, Gabin Planques (First Bike Academy) on a KTM and Alex Gourdon (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) on Honda are registered for this race, even if the first skipped Valencia.
En Moto2™ ECh, all eyes remain turned towards the irrepressible Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team), as the Australian completed a hat-trick in his last outing and is hopeful of achieving all four in Jerez.
Mattia Rato (AGR Team) took a big step forward in Valencia by getting on the podium, something he will try to do in Jerez. Carlos Tatay (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) took his second podium of the year in Valencia and heads to Jerez, where he was on the ETC podium in 2017 with a third place: can he ruffle Agius' feathers ?
French side, Charles Aubrie (JEG Racing) continues his learning.
Maximo Quiles (Aspar Junior Team) dominated the last edition of theEuropean Talent Cup, leaving his opponents wondering where he had gone. Two resounding victories have allowed him to take the lead in the standings, and he is heading to a happy hunting ground in Jerez. In his 2021 campaign, a double victory, Race 1 being the first of his career, gave him the title, and he hopes it will be the same in 2023.
Second in the standings and just five points away, Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) started the year with a double and heads to Jerez where he was disqualified from last year's races, but where he will reach the podium twice in 2021. His rivalry with Quiles could experience new dynamics this weekend. Third in the general classification, Uriarte's teammate, Rico Salmela, is 28 points behind Quiles, but just ahead of double winner Jerez in 2022, Dodo Boggio (Aspar Junior Team), which is aiming for a new performance. The title holder Guido Pini (AC Racing Team) is fifth after four races.
The French Benjamin Caillet (Viltaïs Racing Junior), Elliot Kassigan (Mecaprojets Team Ado), Guillem Planques (First Bike Academy), Matthias Rostagni (MB38 by Mecasport), Enzo Bellon (MB38 by Mecasport) and Leandro Quintans (Team Larresport) are registered on the lists. Benjamin Caillet, Guillem Planques et Enzo Bellon form the French team.
The Sunday racing schedule for the third round of the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship is as follows:
11:00 – JuniorGP™ Race 1: 15 laps
12:00 – ETC Race 1: 14 laps
13:00 p.m. – Moto2™ ECh: 16 laps
14:00 – JuniorGP™ Race 2: 15 laps
15:00 – ETC Race 2: 14 laps
16:00 p.m. – Stock™: 16 laps
