In the Moto3 category this year we have a good number of beginner riders, including an Italian. Let's see the names and profiles of these rookies.
In 2020, we will see some (or almost) new faces on the starting grid of Moto3. Here are the drivers who will make their debut this year, expected to compete full-time and at the highest level in the minor category of the World Championship. Around ten new names, including an Italian, have appeared for this season. Let's look at the profiles of these young Grand Prix beginners.
Jérémy ALCOBA
Born in 2001, he had his first opportunity in the world championship with Gresini Racing. The young Spaniard comes full-time to Moto3 after winning the Junior World Championship title. Between jokers and replacements, he has 5 Grand Prix to his credit, the last having been played with the team of the former Italian driver, in place of the injured Rodrigo, who is now his new box companion. At Silverstone 2019 in particular, the first world points were scored. “ A very interesting pilot » has recalled Fausto Gresini.
Barry BALTUS
The case of the young Belgian, who distinguished himself in the Junior World Championship and the Red Bull Rookies Cup, is rather curious. The engagement took place with PrüstelGP but, not yet being 16 years old, he will only make his debut after 4/5 GP (to be seen for Jerez, given that the driver celebrates his birthday on race Sunday). The hope of the team Florian Prüstel, who had been watching him for some time, was that Baltus could win the CEV Moto3 title, escaping the minimum age rule. This did not happen, however, so the debut will be a long time coming.
Jason Dupasquier
Son of ex-motocross rider Philippe, the eighteen-year-old Swiss is making his absolute debut in the World Championship. For him so far only a few private tests have been carried out with the KTM of the Florian Prüstel team, as well as a recent “early presentation” as the opening of a hockey event. Soon it will be the first official outing of 2020. He will be in Jerez for private tests. Like his future teammate White, he also had his experience between the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship.
Dirk GEIGER
He's not a true rookie in the sense that he won't play the whole season. However, we will see it at the start at Losail, an appointment preceded by the various official testing sessions. His arrival in the World Cup is linked to the story described above by Barry Baltus, out of the game because he is too young. The German driver will therefore play the first four (five?) GPs with PrüstelGP. But he's not a completely new face: Geiger, in last year's European Talent Cup, made his Moto3 debut in 2019 at the Sachsenring as a wildcard.
Maximilian KOFLER
He will be the first Austrian pilot of the world championship for 10 years. Since his past in CIV Moto3 and the Junior World Championship, he is not really making his debut in this championship. In fact, Kofler has four wildcards behind him, three at the Spielberg track and one at Silverstone. Remember that the nineteen-year-old Austrian landed in road competitions less than four years ago, ultimately preferred to Supermoto. For him, arriving in the World Championship is a big challenge, since he plans to continue his studies at the same time.
Yuki KUNII
Although a great protagonist of the Red Bull Rookies Cup and CEV Moto3, we cannot say that luck has smiled on him recently. The young promise of the Rising Sun, for several seasons has been struggling with injuries of all kinds which have prevented him from fighting for the title in both championships. For this reason, his first world wild card was postponed several times, until Brno, but this ended shortly after the start of the race with an accident and a new injury. He will be at the start with Honda Team Asia, determined to show all his worth.
Deniz ÖNCÜ
He is not a new face either, since the young Turk is the twin of Can, rookie in 2019 and moved to WorldSSP this year. Champion of Asia Talent Cup 2017, Deniz Oncu also participated in the Red Bull Rookies Cup (he finished 2nd in 2018 behind his brother) and the CEV Moto3, followed by Red Bull KTM Ajo. The Austrian structure continues to follow him even in his first year in the World Championship: he is in fact one of the two drivers of the new team Tech3. Last year he played two wildcards, followed by three GPs in place of the injured twin.
Davide PIZZOLI
The driver claims three jokers in previous seasons, to which are added two replacements in 2019, before this 2020 occasion. The commitment of the Roman driver for BOÉ Skull Rider Facile.Energy took place very recently, after the retirement of Cornfeel and also the abandonment of Yurchenko. In the past he has done CEV Moto3, Supersport World Championship and CIV Moto3. Last year he was back at the Junior World Championship (after the 2014-2016 three-year period). For him we note a pole and two podiums, and a place as best Italian in the championship. He is already in Jerez for private tests, before the official ones (19-21/02).
Carlos TATAY
She is a young Spaniard who has already aroused particular interest. He lands in the minor category of the World Championship after literally dominating the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2019, thus conquering the title. But even in CEV Moto3 he did not go unnoticed: until the last round he was Alcoba's biggest rival in the championship, ultimately finishing 2nd. Three world wildcards were on his scoresheet last year: in Barcelona and Aragón he finished 12th, in Valencia he fell while fighting in the leading group.
Ryusei YAMANAKA
Finally, here is another young promise from Japan. We are talking about a young man who stood out from a young age, before landing in championships such as the Asia Talent Cup, Red Bull Rookies Cup and FIM CEV Moto3. He made his world debut last year in Qatar: he competed in the first race of the season with EG 0.0 in place of García, who was not yet sixteen years old. For him, during the year, three other wildcards at Mugello, in Catalonia (9th, best world position) and finally at home on the Motegi track (15th).
