Rookies Cup 2027: eight riders selected at Guadix

Selection for the 2027 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup has finished at Guadix, in southern Spain. After three days, eight young riders were chosen from 127 invitees from 45 nations. The cup, a stepping stone towards Moto3, starts its 21st season in 2027.

The eight selected riders

• Spain: Víctor Cubeles, Álex Longarela, Álvaro Lucas
• France: Johann Dubois, Jimmy Primaut
• Italy: Lorenzo Pritelli, Mathias Tamburini
• Switzerland: Alessio Arnold

Seven of the eight therefore come from three traditional road-racing nations: Spain, France and Italy. Roadracing World notes that no American made the selection.

How the selection unfolded

The first group rode on Monday, the second on Tuesday. The four-person selection committee invited 27 riders from the first day and 25 from the second back for the decisive Wednesday, so 52 young talents took to the track. The weather changed during that day. By the evening, eight names were announced.

No Belgian or Dutch rider

Racesport.nl reports that the four Dutch riders, Quinn de Joode, Luuk de Vries, Milan Hunneman and Mick Koomen, were all dropped on Monday. Luuk de Vries was the fastest of the four, but the committee does not judge lap times alone. On the Belgian side, Tom Rolin, the country's only participant, had to miss the second day through injury.

A stepping stone to Moto3

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup has long been seen as a stepping stone to the smallest class in the MotoGP paddock. In its first twenty seasons, 277 riders from 46 countries took part.

Key points

• 127 invitees from 45 nations, 52 riders in the final day, eight selected.
• Three Spaniards, two Frenchmen, two Italians, one Swiss.
• No Belgian or Dutch rider selected; no American either.