After Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts and the late Nicky Hayden, the United States was no longer really represented in the MotoGP World Championship. Fortunately, a new American entered the World Cup this year: rookie Joe Roberts, 20, who made his debut in Qatar with the NTS RW Racing GP team in Moto2.
Joe Roberts was born on June 16, 1997 in Los Angeles. Although he is not related to Kenny Roberts, he has, however, shared the same passion as his eldest since a very young age. Put on a motorcycle at the age of three by a passionate father, Joe has never stopped riding since.
Encouraged by his parents, he tried his luck in Europe in 2011 and participated in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. He won the Brno race in his first year, and took other podiums in 2012 and 2013.
He then returned to the United States to race in American championships and gets noticed. He broke a record by being the youngest rider to win an American Supersport Championship (AMA SSP) race, and dominated the Moto America Superstock 600 Championship.
He returned to Europe in 2017 to participate in the European Moto2 Championship, while starting five World Championship races as Yonny Hernández's replacement for the AGR team. He finishes fifth in the FIM CEV general classification at the end of the year, with four podiums to his credit. His good results allowed him to join the NTS RW Racing GP team for the Moto2 World Cup 2018.
If Joe Roberts always got used to it quickly during his rookie years, the first two races of the season gave him some problems. The young American could not do better than 25th in Qatar and Argentina. Nevertheless motivated and helped by his team who are discovering the new NTS machine alongside him, he knows that he has many things to learn, but that the results will eventually arrive, as evidenced by his excellent top 10 during his first World Cup race in Brno last year.
Very motivated to achieve a good result in Austin, the only American driver hopes that the support will be there: “I'm the only American, so I'd like some encouragement. I will do everything to ensure that the fans who come to see me leave happy. It would be great to see “Joe Roberts” banners and flags everywhere. »
Joe Roberts alongside Kevin Schwantz
