This year, twenty countries are represented in the World Championship, all categories combined: South Africa, Germany, England, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Scotland, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Thailand.
While many of them have several representatives, like Spain and Italy, others, however, can only count on a single driver to make them shine.
These countries are found in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories, and they represent all continents, starting with the center of the World Championship. Indeed, three European nations have only one representative: Scotland, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Scotland, first of all, is represented by John Mcphee in Moto3. Born July 14, 1994 in Oban, he raced a few races as a wild card in 125cc, and completed his first full season in the Moto3 World Cup in 2013. Author of four podiums, he won his first and only victory at Brno in 2016 After having had his best season last year by finishing seventh in the championship, he arrived this year in the CIP – Green Power team.
The Netherlands are represented in Moto2 by the young Will Bendsneyder. Born on March 4, 1999 in Rotterdam, he arrived in the Moto3 World Cup in 2016. With a good first year in the category, he then had a complicated 2017 season before moving to Moto2 this year with the Tech 3 Racing team. . For more information on Bo Bendsneyder, visit our March article about it.
Portugal is represented in Moto2 by Miguel Oliveira. Born on January 4, 1995 not far from Lisbon, he became the first Portuguese in history to race an entire season in the World Cup with his arrival in 2011. Author of a total of seven podiums and six victories in Moto3, he has also finished vice-world champion in 2015. Arriving in Moto2 in 2016, he had a discreet first season, before revealing himself again in 2017 within the Red Bull KTM Ajo team. Eight podiums and three class wins later, he is currently a contender for the 2018 title. Find his full portrait here.
If we move away towards the East, we find Kazakhstan which is represented for the first time thanks to the young Makar Yurchenko, arrived this year in the CIP – Green Power team. Born to Kazakh parents on July 29, 1998 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he cut his teeth in numerous Russian championships, but also in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the CEV where he was spotted.
Further east still, Thailand can count on its only representative in Moto3: Nakarin Atiratphuvapat. Born on January 17, 1996 in Khon Kaen, he arrived in the World Cup last year, with Honda Team Asia. With a tenth place as his best result, he scored a total of four times in the points.
Even beyond the countries, the American continent is the least well represented with only three countries: the United States, Brazil and Argentina, and each of them has only one driver in the World Cup.
Joe Roberts, first of all, born June 16, 1997 in Los Angeles, races for the United States in Moto2. Having only arrived in the World Cup this year, he allowed his country to be represented in Austin. On the occasion of the Grand Prix, we offered you his portrait last week, which you can go read if you missed it.
Eric Granado, then, represents Brazil. Arriving in the Moto2 World Championship in 2012, he left in 2014, before returning this year to the Forward Racing team. We also took his portrait shortly before the Argentine Grand Prix, and you can go there to learn more about the Brazilian driver.
Gabriel Rodrigo represents Argentina. Born on October 12, 1996 in Barcelona to Argentine parents, he arrived in the Moto3 World Cup in 2014 before completing his first full season in 2015. He currently plays for the RBA BOE Skull Rider team. To find out more about him, find our article in three parts about his life, his history and his training.
When we know that Italy and Spain have 23 and 22 drivers respectively in the World Cup, we say to ourselves that the distribution is not very equal...
