David Alonso will be a driver MotoGP Next year; even those who don't follow the lower categories have surely heard of this star, so what can we expect? I'm personally pleased with his rise, but I think the expectations surrounding him are a bit high. Let me explain.
A star, but in Moto3
The world discovered David Alonso during the 2023 season, when he was still racing a GasGas in Moto3. Very quickly, the Colombian rookie, born in Madrid, made a name for himself, with four wins in his first full-time race. Then, in 2024, he truly exploded onto the scene. Alonso won 14 races, breaking all records set in the modern era.and becoming, for many, a star in the mold of Marc Marquez or Pedro Acosta. But it's a bit more complicated than that.
Over the last decade, a breed of rider has emerged: the Moto3 specialistsSince the motorcycles used in junior formulas are similar to Grand Prix machines, young riders arrive in the world championship in increasingly advanced form. A succession of exceptionally fast riders emerges instantly after shining in the MotoGP Red Bull Rookies Cup or the FIM JuniorGP. Pedro Acosta, David Alonso, Angel Piqueras, José Antonio Rueda, Alvaro Carpe, and now Maximo Quiles. Every year, it feels like we're discovering a new phenomenon. So, sometimes it works, but other times, much less so. So, what's the differentiating factor? Moving up to Moto2.
This is the ultimate test, the most difficult transition in a rider's career with the current 250cc – 765cc – 1000cc format. Moto3 champions have come up short there; Where have Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Jaume Masia, and others gone? In 2024, I warmly congratulated David Alonso for his superhuman effort, but I knew that we had to wait for this passage to know whether or not we were dealing with a monster.
And it worked, but not in the way expected. I believe that at the beginning of 2025, I had absolutely predicted he would be world champion Moto2; once again, I got carried away. He didn't disappoint, no, but he wasn't transcendent even after his return from injury, wasn't statistically exceptional in the truest sense of the word. It was better towards the end, and he still managed to win, but with quite a few crashes. Incredible, but true: Daniel Holgado, the 2024 Moto2 runner-up, was actually ahead of him in the rookie standings! The Colombian finished his first Moto2 season in 9th place. And that's where my reservations come in.
With this Moto2 debut, Alonso was no longer in the same league as Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta, who, at the same time, could still be compared after their first season in the intermediate category. I would even go further; He didn't do any better than Maverick Viñales or Brad Binder.They, too, were considered very strong prospects in the lower classes, but a step below the Marquez/Acosta duo. And his second season confirms this assessment. David Alonso is currently fourth in the standings, but already 79,5 points behind the leader Manuel Gonzalez, who, according to Pit Beirer, is anything but a phenomenon, preferring Senna Agius.
Similar teams
One small point to refute a possible counter-argument: the teams in which the aforementioned drivers have played. Yes, Marc Marquez had an army with him as early as 2011.Yes, Ajo undoubtedly gave everything to make Acosta a success in 2022. They were indeed perfectly oiled machines, but be careful not to underestimate Jorge Martinez "Aspar", and that is precisely one of my questions.
Aspar, like Ajo for that matter, has a knack for winning. Thus, throughout history, and I'm not saying this will be the case for Alonso, some drivers have benefited from this advantage, but have subsequently lost it completely. The structure is so strong that it overshadows the performance of the drivers.Talmacsi, Simon, Arenas, Garcia were never as strong as when they played for Aspar.
What I mean is that David Alonso is good, even excellent, but let's keep our feet on the ground. Ultimately, I'm mainly talking about what happens on the track. But that's not the only place where Alonso shines.
The outcome of the signing
HRC was right to sign him. In addition to acquiring a very talented rider, also courted by Ducati, Honda has brought in one of the most influential riders. Alonso knows how to celebrate his victories and generate buzz. His Colombian nationality, even though he was born in Madrid, makes him a valuable asset to an interesting and currently untapped market. Those who saw him compete in Moto3 remember: this guy is breathtaking, he's handsome, and at only 20 years old, seems fully aware of his marketing potential – a quality, let's be clear – and sporty. Naturally, we had to get our hands on it.
Alonso, for his part, was right to seize this opportunity. Honda still enjoys legendary status despite the setbacks since 2020, and the new regulations could very well see the winged brand emerge. The Colombian has secured a place in an ambitious, up-and-coming team. As I write this, it's unclear whether he'll be alongside Johann Zarco at LCR, or with Quartararo in the factory team. I'll personally throw him in at the deep end, like I did with Marc Marquez back in the day, to give him responsibility from the start and make him understand that he's the future of the brand. It worked for Pedrosa, Lorenzo, and Marquez, so why not for Alonso? In any case, he will inherit a factory bike identical to Quartararo's. And I believe that no matter where he races, he will be able to worry his rivals right from the start; he should be watched closely.
Okay, to answer the article's title: yes, I'm getting carried away! I want to believe in him. I'm curious to know what you think of this signature. Tell me in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
Cover photo: Aspar Team