Courtesy of Red Bull MotoGP edited by AllAboutBikes.com staff

 A charged ensemble of 27 teenagers from all over the world will line up for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup on their KTM RC125s to start the 8 race 2009 season at Jerez at the beginning of May.

The Cup's third season is expected to produce the most intense competition with an enormously talented entry.

There are also 9 new Rookies joining the Cup from the Final Selection Event held at Estoril last November plus 16 year-old Australian Josh Hook from October's U.S. Cup Selection Event at Barber Motorsport Park. Britain's 15 year-old Danny Kent graduates to the Cup from the Red Bull MotoGP Academy and there are 13 Rookies from the 2008 MotoGP Cup.

 

With 14 Nations represented, drawing riders from as far apart as Japan, South Africa, Australia and all across Europe and the USA the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is the place where the best of the world's teenage talent is to be seen, producing a thrilling spectacle while they develop their craft.

 

The three Americans are lead by U.S. Cup winner 14 year-old Benny Solis. The Californian is joined by Hayden Gillim the 14 year-old from Kentucky and 15 year-old Californian Jake Gagne who ended the season 2nd and 4th respectively. They will be looking to step on from the excellent form they displayed in the two transatlantic Riders Cup races last year.

 

The learning begins at Estoril on March 26th and 27th followed by another 2 day test at Jerez on March 30th and 31st. Time for some to build on their Rookies Cup experience and for others the first opportunity to feel what it means to ride a thoroughbred KTM Grand Prix machine.  This is the third year of the enormously valuable partnership between Red Bull and KTM that has made the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup such a great success.