Three days of testing in Jerez, on the KTM RC 250 R in varied conditions, have prepared the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup riders well for this 12-race season in Europe. The 25 young people from 15 different nations, from Indonesia to Switzerland, from Colombia to Japan and France, are now ready to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.
One of the fastest of these two days was the winner in Jerez last year, Carlos Tatay. “It was a very good test, we tried some new things that we didn't have last year and I think we made progress with the bike. I am very happy. I know I should do well this season and I like to have pressure but not too much. I will try to resolve this at the start of the season. I'm happy with my pace in the long runs, but when we come for the GP, I'll try to find a little more pace on a timed lap.", enthuses the 15-year-old Spaniard.
Japanese Yuki Kunii, 16 years old, was also very fast. “It was a very good test. I like the track, I feel very confident on the bike now, and I think we have a good set-up. I want to do well, but I don't feel the pressure this season. I should be competitive but I know very well that the races are always very tough in the Rookies Cup, and I know we will have a lot of tough fights. , explained last year's Mugello winner.
Just as fast were some of the newcomers whose Peter Acosta. “I have to say, I didn't think I would do so well on this test. I am very happy with the way it went, I quickly found a good feeling with the bike and the way of working with my mechanic and all the technical staff,” said the 14-year-old Spaniard who was the star of the selection event last October.
Twelve months after last year's test, Adrian Huertas is much happier. “Last year I missed the test due to an injury, and when I started the first race, of course, I struggled with the settings and the start of the year was difficult. Now that I've had three good days here and have a good set-up with the bike, I'm much more confident for the start of the season.", said the 15-year-old Spaniard.
Dani Ribalta, the drivers' coach, summed things up. “I think we have another great group of drivers. The track has been resurfaced since last year, it is smoother and the pace is faster: our runners are benefiting from it and the main group is very tight. I think we are in a very exciting season, some of the new drivers are already very fast and the others will catch up soon. We have a strong group that has worked very hard, so I think we can be excited about this season.”
The week following the one where the ex-rookies Lorenzo Baldassarri et Jaume Masia won the Moto2 and Moto3 GPs in Argentina, it is clear that the 2019 rookies are starting the path that leads to the Grands Prix.
The rookie season begins at the Red Bull Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez in four weeks.
2019 Calendar:
May 1-2 4-5 Jerez – Spain
June 3, 1 Mugello – Italy
June 4-5, 29 – 30 Assen – Netherlands
July 6-7 6-7 Sachsenring – Germany
August 8-9 10-11 Spielberg – Austria
September 10, 14 Misano – Italy
September 11-12 21-22 Aragon – Spain
List of 2019 drivers:
5 Lorenzo Fellon (FRA)
6 Phillip Tonn (TBS)
7 Barry Baltus (BEL)
11 Alex Escrig (ESP)
28 Matteo Bertelle (ITA)
29 Billy van Eerde (AUS)
30 Max Cook (GBR)
34 Mario Aji (IDN)
37 Pedro Acosta (ESP)
38 David Salvador (ESP)
44 Nicolas Hernandez (COL)
45 Clément Rougé (FRA)
48 Gabin Planques (FRA)
50 Jason Dupasquier (SUI)
55 Noah Dettwiler (SUI)
56 Haruki Noguchi (JPN)
62 Aidan Liebenberg (RSA)
66 Adrian Huertas (ESP)
70 Tyler Scott (United States)
74 Daijiro Sako (JPN)
84 Zonta van den Goorbergh (NED)
88 Artem Maraev (RUS)
89 Marcos Uriarte (ESP)
92 Yuki Kunii (JPN)
99 Carlos Tatay (ESP)
Lorenzo Fellon, Clément Rougé, Gabin Planques
