“That was fantastic,”said Deroue who was 6th on the grid. “I seem to be able to get the good starts and I did again. We had a lot of fun in the race the guys were riding very well and I could just see that it was going to work out like yesterday. I went wide into the chicane on the last lap so no one could get past and then I had a good line through the last corners behind Philipp and I knew I could get him before the line.”

Oettl was not too devastated by losing on the line. “I’m happy to be back on the podium after such a difficult start to the Rookies season,” he said referring to the troubles he has had switching from the 4-stroke he rides in the Spanish Championship back to the 2-stroke KTM. “We had the bike working well this weekend and the only thing wrong yesterday was the start and the opening laps. Today I got away with the group and that made the difference. It is a great feeling to be up here again. I really thought I had it won out of the last corner but then I saw Scotty out of the corner of my eye.”

Florian Alt, who flashed across the line 2nd on Saturday was even more unlucky in the 2nd race, crashing out with 4 laps to go after a wicked almost-high-side that led into a brush with Hanika and fall that damaged the 16 year old German’s KTM. Up to the point Alt had done much of the leading just as he did on Saturday and the misfortune cost him the points lead.

Hanika was happy to be 3rd again. “It was another great race, a lot of fun. I changed my seating position a bit from yesterday and that made things better on the straights,” explained the lanky blond. “I was enjoying the race and then about 4 laps to go Florian hit me on the inside and went down, I don’t think it was my fault. I lost ground to Philipp and Scott but managed to catch back up, I just couldn’t get in front before the line.”

Not surprisingly Alt saw things differently. “The race was going fine up to then, no problems at all, then I was inside and Hanika hit me, there was nothing I could do.”

From 4 races Alt has been unlucky enough to fail to finish twice, a technical problem in Race 2 in Jerez after the 1st leg victory and another zero after 2nd in Race 1 in Estoril. He slipped from 1st to 3rd in the points table and local hero Ivo Lopes slipped from 2nd to 4th with similar misfortune. The home town hero failed to score after being brought down in the lead pack when 14 year old Briton Bradley Ray tucked the front on the brakes and took the wheels out from under the 15 year old Portuguese.

Crossing the line 4th was Kyle Ryde, the 14 year old Briton who had also been in the lead group all race. “We changed the suspension from yesterday looking for more grip. It helped in some places but I just couldn’t get the drive out of turn 4 and onto the back straight. We were still doing OK but then Florian crashed in front and it was tough to catch up from there.

The British 125 Champion defended his position ahead of 5th place finisher Joe Roberts who had also had a fine race, including snatching the lead, “That was great,” said the 14 year old American. “I knew I had to push hard from the start to get with the lead pack and that’s what I did. Then Bradley crashed and I lost touch a bit, I fought back but then Florian went down so it was difficult in the end but I am happy enough because I know I can run with the guys at the front.”

Races 5 and 6 of the 2012 Rookies Cup are at Silverstone on June 16th and 17th.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

The opening laps saw Lopes, Hanika and Alt having a private battle for the lead but as soon as the 2nd place group settled down containing Deroue, 14 year old Britons Kyle Ryde and Bradley Ray as well as Spanish 14 year old Marcos Ramirez they started to close on the leading trio.

“I knew we could catch them,” said Deroue who had actually charged into the lead from 6th place on the grid only to make a mistake and slip out of the initial leading bunch. “It just needed them to make a mistake and that is what they did. Once we caught them I knew we could fight to the finish. I had the lead on the last lap but then Florian came past. I had a pretty good line every lap through that last corner and just caught his slipstream perfectly.”

Disappointment for Alt of course. “I did everything that I could. I couldn’t get away at the front, the others kept picking up my slipstream. All I could do on that last lap was get in front and try to make the last corners perfectly. I did and I thought I had it. Only to see Scotty come past at the line,” concluded Alt who lost out by less than a tenth of a second.

Hanika was happy to be on the podium after being fast since the start of the year but suffering 2 accidents at Jerez. “It was a great race, a lot of fun. The bike was good and I had no real problems I just couldn’t get in front on the run to the line, Scotty had the perfect slipstream.”

Lopes also found the positive. “I’m now 2nd in the Cup points just 1 behind Flo’ so that’s great, the bike was good, I’m just a bit big for it and that doesn’t help down the long straight here but never mind I’m going to win tomorrow. This is my track and it should be my race,” he added with a grin.

Ray was 5th across the line and had been part of the pressure that took the 2nd group up to the leaders, setting the fastest lap of the race to that point. “We caught them but then I just couldn’t get through the group, not without doing something a bit crazy,” said the British 125 Championship leader.

Reigning British champ Ryde was 6th and claimed the fastest lap of the race on lap 12 of the 16. “By then my stomach was upsetting my concentration,” he explained referring to the grumbling appendix that had hit during qualifying. “I was thinking more about that than riding and I just lost touch with the group. Up ’till then it had been easy enough to run with them and I was looking for a good result.”

Also dropping off the group in the final laps to finish 7th was Ramirez. “I just couldn’t keep with them in the end, the front was chattering going into the chicane and I just had to let them go.”

Reigning Cup champion and points leader going to Estoril, Lorenzo Baldassarri finished only 14th and slipped to 4th in the points behind Ramirez “I’m sad,” said the 15 year old Italian who had qualified 12th. “I made a good start but then Azmi braked very late into one of the corners, I got off line and in the wrong gear, I lost so much drive coming out that a lot of riders came past. From there it was very difficult and I couldn’t fight my way through the group. I have to get away with the leaders tomorrow.”

Race 2 in Estoril is at 16.30 CET on Sunday and can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV networks around the world.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Bradley Ray, the 14 year old Briton and 16 year old German Florian Alt were ahead of them on track and also charging round together to take 1st and 2nd on the timing screen until being pushed back by Lopez and Hanika a few seconds later.

“That was great fun,” said Lopez as he ‘high-fived’ with Hanika in the pit lane. “We were chasing each other and going fast but it was hard to get the lap times because there were quite a few riders out there not going so quick. The bike is great, we are having fun and I think we can do the same in the race,” concluded the home track hero.

Hanika was every bit as pleased. “It was really great fun in that session, towards the end the rear tyre was really worn and sliding around a lot but we won’t have that problem in the race. The bike setting is good and I can’t wait for tomorrow.” The blond Czech is in his 1st Rookies season but took to the KTM and the Estoril track at the pre-season test where he was 3rd fastest.

Alt was 2nd fastest at that test, won the opening race of the season and headed the table for much of qualifying only to be denied at the close. “That’s OK, things just got a bit crazy in the last lap, I was trying for a good time, I’m not sure what some of the other riders were doing. Of course I would like to have got pole but the race is another thing, I did a lot of fast laps and I hope I can get on the podium, or even win,” he concluded with a grin.

It was Brad Ray who pushed Alt onto the 2nd row and the bespectacled teen admitted he took advantage of the German ahead even though he too had been on the leader-board anyway. “Sure it helped, just right for that last lap. The bike is good though, we only changed it a little from the test because it was working pretty well then. I think it’s going to be a good race,” affirmed the Briton who led race one in Jerez before crashing.

5th fastest was Hafiq Azmi, the 14 year old Malaysian. “I am much happier with that. I still had some problems with the bike under braking. The rear is jumping around all over. I will have a talk to the technicians and see if they can help with something for the race.”

Scott Deroue, the 16 year old Dutchman qualified an excellent 6th while 14 year old Briton Kyle Ryde was lucky to be 7th even though he was fastest at the pre-season test and obviously had the pace in qualifying. He was struck down with appendicitis half way through the first session and taken to the medical centre. The pain subsided enough for him to go out in the 2nd session where he was quick again only to be forced back into the pits with the stomach pain. A drink, and he went out again gritting his teeth and determined. Then the bike seized. Fortunately he had done enough for a decent place on row 3 and must hope that both his bike and his body are in better shape for the races.

Another man with bike problems was Philipp Öttl, the German who celebrated his 16th birthday on Thursday, was only 11th fastest after his bike stopped with electrical problems. Cup leader and defending champion Lorenzo Baldassarri, the 15 year old Italian, is alongside him on the grid in 12th place. “I managed to get the bike working a bit better towards the end of that session but I was struggling very badly earlier and I just could not progress any more during the session. Hopefully the race will be better.”

Estoril’s 1st race is at 17.30 CET on Saturday with Sunday’s at 17.00 and both can be viewed live on www.redbull.tv and on television networks around the world.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

“It was a fantastic race,” said Baldassarri. “I was right in the middle of a very big group and we were all fighting so hard. What was great for me is that I found the rhythm with the KTM again and was comfortable on it. I managed to work my way to the front. In the last laps I knew it would be difficult and at the last corner I just tried to get the perfect drive and hoped.”

“At the start of the year I had some much difficulty adapting from the 4-stroke to the 2-stroke at our Estoril test that I thought that it might be impossible. At least now I know it is possible,” said the tall, curly haired teenager with his infectious smile. “I am going to Estoril next weekend with a lot more confidence.”

Of course Lopes was less thrilled with the result but he saw the positives. “It was just an incredible race. I think we were 20 guys all in one pack, unbelievable. It was so tough, I just kept pushing, pushing, pushing until I could work my way to the front. Then I went for the win, I thought I had it as I crossed the line…. then I saw Baldassarri. At least I go to my home track knowing I can do it. Only winning will be OK there.”

For Perez his 2nd trip to the podium was just as enjoyable as the 1st. “Of course after yesterday I knew I could do a good race but this time there were so many riders. I just worked as hard as I could and stayed out of trouble. Again it was all about the last corner and who got out of the group the best.”

Florian Alt, winner of the first race was forced into retirement with an electrical problem after fighting his way through from mid pack to the lead. He wasn’t the only leader not to finish the race, Kyle Ryde and Scott Deroue had both been at the front only to be skittled by Aaron Espana on lap 10 of the 16 as the 14 year old Spaniard was forced off line under braking by the pack at the end of the back straight.

Bradley Ray, the 14 year old Briton who slid out of the lead of Saturday’s race was once again one of the leaders and looked just as smooth as he did in race 1 but was again denied. He was caught up in the 3 bike incident on lap 10. “Espana went down in front of me and I jumped his bike, I was thrown off but was so lucky as I landed back on the bike and managed to stay on the track. I lost a lot of ground to the leaders but I fought back and got with them just on the last lap,” concluded the 5th place finisher.

Espana explained the crash. “Ray moved over on me as we braked and I was forced too much to the inside, the front just folded, there was nothing I could do about it,” explained the Spaniard and with such a huge group battling for the lead such things were almost bound to happen.

A similar incident happened at the last corner on lap 13 with Karel Hanika, another of the early leaders, colliding with Lukas Trautmann, the 16 year old Austrian who had brilliantly battled through from mid pack to challenge for the lead. “We were all braking for the corner explained 16 year old Czech Hanika. “Then Alt dived across me and I had to pick the bike up a bit and then was hit by Lukas, it was just bad luck.”

When that happened they had just passed Philipp Oettl on the run to that tight left as the 15 year old German ran onto the ripple strips exiting the ultra fast rights and lost the lead. He recovered to finish 4th. “That wasn’t a bad race but still not good enough,” he said seriously. “It was a huge group and I had to work hard to get to the front. By the end the rear tyre was past it’s best but not as bad as yesterday, the suspension was also better but still not right so I think we can improve things for Estoril. I know that I have got to be more aggressive.”

Races 3 and 4 in the 15 race Rookies Cup season take place next weekend, May 5th and 6th at Estoril in Portugal.

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

It was a fantastic fight from first corner to last and no criticism of Kyle Ryde the 14 year old Briton and 15 year old Portuguese Ivo Lopes who crossed the line 4th and 5th but had led the race and could so easily have been on the podium.

Alt won the last race of 2011 and started his 3rd season of Rookies Cup brilliantly even though he came off the the 3rd row of the grid after qualifying 8th. “It wasn’t a great start, I struggled a bit in the opening laps being in a big group and I knew I would have to get going before the leaders opened a gap,” said Alt.

“From then it was a great battle, a lot of fun and though I was passed on the last lap I knew what I had to do at the last corner and it worked out. The bike was good after we raised the rear suspension following practice but it wasn’t perfect. I think will change it a little more before tomorrow’s race because I am aiming to do the same again.”

Ramirez had made a great start from pole but then it seemed to go wrong. “I had a great start but then there were so many riders with us at the front that I kept getting bumped off line and I lost the front runners. Then I really had to calm down and work hard to get back with them,” explained Ramirez who was 2.5 seconds adrift of the lead group with 5 laps to go.

He closed the gap and caught them with a lap and a half remaining. Cutting through the lead group and into the lead half way round the final lap he charged to the line with the other 4 all on his tail. As it so often does at Jerez it all came down to the last 180 degree left hander. “I got into the corner OK but just couldn’t find the drive coming out and that was it. Still the 2nd race is tomorrow. We changed the bike a little after practice but it still wasn’t right, the rear was wallowing and sliding through the fast rights so I hope we can get it working better tomorrow.”

Perez had no such complaints. “I was happy with the bike and the race was a lot of fun, I think it just depended how things worked out at the last corner. Tomorrow I will be aiming for the podium again,” said the 3rd place man.

Ryde was philosophical about 4th. “It was a good race, I could have tried something desperate at the last corner but this is the first race and it’s a long season.” As for changes to the bike for race 2? “More speed!’, said the British 125 championship with a grin. Lopes said that 5th was his mistake. “I thought there was still another lap to go,” he admitted with a shrug.

There were 2 race leaders who didn’t make it to the flag. Karel Hanika, the 16 year old Czech crashed out of the lead on lap 2 when he hit a damp patch after seeing it too late. “I saw it, I thought, ‘this isn’t going to be good.’” Fortunately he was unhurt as was 14 year old Briton Bradley Ray who did much of the lead running until the front slid away through the fast rights leading back to the start on lap 11 of 16. “I’d just got the lead from Lopes and I thought I’d try and gap him, I guess I pushed it too hard.”

Last year’s Cup champion Lorenzo Baldassarri was not too disappointed with 8th after starting 11th on the grid. “I am now feeling better on the bike so that is really positive. We were battling in a big group and as always happens in Rookies Cup the guys brake very late, get in front, but are then very slow through the corners so that messed things up for me. I was I a good position going into the last corner but did not have the drive coming out,” admitted the now tall 15 year old Italian.

Philipp Oettl, winner of the opening race last year and winner of the opening round of this year’s Spanish Moto3 championship is, like Baldassarri, finding switching back to the 2-stroke 125 KTM not easy. “I think we made progress,” explained the 15 year old German after finishing 6th. “I know more what I need from the bike every time, we changed it after practice but it wasn’t right for the race so we will change it again for tomorrow. The Championship is not won or lost at the first race.”

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Heading the second row is yet another debuting Rookie, Karel Hanika, the Czech 16 year old edging out British 125 Champion Kyle Ryde. The 14 year old Briton tops a list of returning Rookies with Portuguese 15 year old Ivo lopes completing row 2.

Ramirez admitted his surprise at setting pole time. “Sure I didn’t expect that,” he said, fending of the congratulations of a gang of well wishers. “I was riding hard but I didn’t think I would get pole. Towards the end the tyres were really worn and the rear was sliding around a lot. Also my bike setting is not quite right, the front is running wide through the fast corners so we will think about changing something for the race.”

Equally Ray didn’t hide his pleasure and surprise. He was quickest in the first session as the track started to dry and also headed the leader-board for almost the entire second session only to be denied pole at the last moment. “There were still a few damp patches there even at the end and by then the tyres were well worn,” said the youngster who comes to Spain with 2 victories in the opening races of this year’s British Championship behind him. “The bike’s strong though, it’s working well so I can’t wait to get into the race.”

Perez is equally content with his set-up. “The bike is great I will change nothing, I was really enjoying it and I really didn’t have any problems at all, not from the tyres, nothing.” One of the surprises from the pre season Estoril test where he was 3rd fastest was Hanika and even though he has never been to Jerez before the Czech found no problems at all. “I enjoy the track and I love the bike, I didn’t expect to be this far up the grid, of course it was sliding a bit at the end with the tyres but I am so looking forward to the race.”

Ryde was not displeased with 5th but felt it could have been better. “When Karel came past towards the end I realised that he was quicker through the slow corners, when I tried to go with him the bike wouldn’t let me so we’ve got to think about the suspension. Right on the last lap I got a good run going only to catch the group and get slowed down at the final corners, I think that cost me a second and places on the grid.

Of course not everyone is happy and last year’s Cup winner Lorenzo Baldassarri, the 15 year old Italian, crashed unhurt and starts from the middle of row 4 in 11th place. Philipp Oettl who scored a 1st and a 2nd at last year’s Jerez GP was even more displeased as he is directly behind him in the middle of the 5th row and 14th fastest.

“That’s not where I want to be,” said the German 15 year old, winner of the opening round of this year’s Spanish Championship and, like Baldassarri, swapping back from the 4-stroke they both ride there to the 2-stroke KTM RC125. “I want to be racing for the win and it is hard to do that from back where I am on the grid. I think we have to manage some suspension changes because I am not happy on the bike, mainly the problem is the rear I think. We certainly need to work it out.”

Race 1 starts at 16.30 CET on Saturday with race 2 at 15.30 CET on Sunday.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Jerez is the traditional starting point for the Cup that is contested over 15 races this year. Last year Jerez saw Philipp Oettl begin his challenge in superb style with a 1st and a 2nd. This year he has already won the opening round of the Spanish Championship at the same venue so on those results the 15 year old German comes into the GP weekend as firm favourite.

The Rookies Pre Season Test in Estoril puts a different slant on things though as Oettl struggled to swap back from the 4-stroke Moto3 KTM he rode to victory in the Spanish Championship just days before. He ended the test 17th fastest, tired and frustrated with trying to regain his feeling for the 2-stroke KTM RC125. “It isn’t easy and I can’t say exactly what the problem is. I’ve done so much riding in the last 6 days (his father said over 1000km) that I can’t really sort out where the problem is. That is what I have to work on, understanding the differences and how to adapt.”

2011 Cup winner Lorenzo Baldassarri was similarly off form for the same reason and was 11th fastest at the test. It seems that the general feeling is that the 4-stroke Moto3 bikes are easier to ride and getting back on the 2-strokes is a bit of a shock as they require more precision and it is easy to get into trouble.

It may well be then that reigning British 125cc Champion Kyle Ryde is the man to watch in Jerez. The 14 year old Briton was fastest in Estoril and has since scored a close 2nd in the opening race of the British 125 Championship where he is also riding a 2-stroke.

Ryde’s bike failed to start for the 2nd British Championship race and both rounds were won by Bradley Ray who is in his first Rookies race in Jerez after being one of the revelations of the Estoril Test. The 14 year old Briton was 9th fastest as he learnt to ride the KTM.

Well ahead of Ray in the Estoril times was fellow newcomer Karel Hanika and the Czech has just turned 16 on April 14th. He loved riding the KTM for the first time and was 3rd fastest behind the much more experienced Florian Alt. The German turns 16 the day after the Spanish GP, 3 days before Oettl who was his arch rival last season. Alt scored his first Rookies victory in the final race of the year at Misano when Oettl throttled off too early. Not a mistake he will repeat in Spain next weekend. Oettl’s bigger worry will be swapping bikes again after the 2nd Moto3 race last weekend in Navarra.

2012 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Calendar
April 28-29, Jerez (Spain), Rounds 1+2
May 5-6, Estoril (Portugal), Rounds 3+4
June 16-17, Silverstone (United Kingdom), Rounds 5+6
June 29-30, Assen (Netherlands), Rounds 7+8
July 7-8, Sachsenring (Germany), Rounds 9+10
August 25-26, Brno (Czech Republic), Rounds 11+12
September 15, Misano (San Marino), Round 13
September 29-30, Aragon (Spain), Rounds 14+15

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

“I was smiling,” said Ryde. “Because I knew I’d done a good lap on Tuesday but really the most important thing was that we’ve got the bike set up. We made more progress here in three days than we did in the whole of last year. It’s hard to explain why, I guess its’s just that I’ve got the confidence now to try different things,” explained the British 125 Champion.

Alt was similarly happy with things after also setting his best time on Tuesday. “The wind was a small problem today,” admitted Alt on Thursday. “It didn’t trouble me too much. The grip was better today than earlier in the week but then the tyres started to fade, we had done too many kilometres on them. For the final session we had new tyres front and rear so we were all determined to set a good time but it was just a bit too much wind.”

The most notable of those that did set their best time on the windier final day was Hanika. “I’ve really enjoyed the testing here. The KTM is better than bikes I have ridden before and I was very pleased that I could get on with it so quickly, I felt comfortable and we got good settings, it all went very well. There are a lot of fast riders here though and I know it is going to be a very tough season.”

Malaysian 15 year old Hafiq Azmi was 4th fastest. “I wasn’t happy because I had a crash but otherwise things went well, we have a good bike set up and I like the track, the chicane particularly is a lot of fun.”

Local hero Ivo Lopes shrugged off a grazed eye, sustained when a stone bounced into his helmet to set the 6th fastest time behind American 14 year old Joe Roberts and looks forward to the first round in Jerez full of confidence. “I am having a great time on the bike and I really think I can finish in the top 3 there at least, I’m really aiming to win.”

For the newcomers the three days was very much about learning to ride the KTM as well as the circuit. It didn’t seem to present much of a problem to Bradley Ray, the 14 year old Briton who was fast from early on and 9th at the end. “I’m really enjoying it, I love the bike and the track. I find the KTM quick to turn and it handles well but I don’t think it will be too difficult to swap back to the Honda I have at home for Brands this weekend. Estoril is a lot of fun, I love the fast right hand kink behind the pits.”

Some of the more experienced men were not finding it quite so easy including Philipp Oettl. The 15 year old German was 4th in last year’s Cup and came to Estoril fresh from victory in the opening round of the Spanish Moto3 Championship. Swapping from 4-stroke to 2-stroke proved tricky and he ended up 14th fastest. “It isn’t easy and I can’t say exactly what the problem is. I’ve done so much riding in the last 6 days (his father says over 1000km) that I can’t really sort out where the problem is. That is what I have to work on, understanding the differences and how to adapt.”

Lorenzo Baldassarri, the reigning Rookies Cup champion was 11th, also having swapped from Moto3 to RC125. The 15 year old Italian was not stressed about it. “It isn’t easy to swap, the 125 seems harder to ride, more critical, if you make a mistake on the throttle or anything you are in trouble and you lose time. The 4-stroke seems more forgiving. I am not so worried, I know I have to work that out and I think we have a good setting for the bike. This year is not going to be easy for sure.”

The only girl in the Cup, Yui Watanabe, the 15 year old Japanese, found no trouble with the bike and was very happy to be so quickly focussed on what she needed to do. “I can so quickly see where I need to improve, I am not getting into the corners on the right line and especially in the slow corners that is causing me a lot of problems. So far my strong point is getting on the throttle so I know what I have to work on.”

The first two races of the season are over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Jerez, April 28th and 29th with the Portuguese GP in Estoril following immediately on May 5th and 6th.

Combined classification, days 2 and 3 (day 1 not timed)
1. Kyle Ryde (GBR) 1 minute 51.877 seconds
2. Florian Alt (GER) 1 minute 51.949 seconds
3. Karel Hanika (CZE) 1 minute 52.026 seconds
4. Hafiq Azmi (MAS) 1 minute 52.300 seconds
5. Joe Roberts (USA) 1 minute 52.373 seconds
6. Ivo Lopes (POR) 1 minute 52.422 seconds
7. Diego Perez (ESP) 1 minute 52.460 seconds
8. Wili Albert (GER) 1 minute 52.486 seconds
9. Bradley Ray (GBR) 1 minute 52.660 seconds
10. Aaron Espana (ESP) 1 minute 52.699 seconds
11. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) 1 minute 52.848 seconds
12. Marcos Ramirez (ESP) 1 minute 52.932 seconds
13. Scott Deroue (NED) 1 minute 53.372 seconds
14. Jordan Weaving (RSA) 1 minute 53.460 seconds
15. Livio Loi (BEL) 1 minute 53.461 seconds
16. Nicolo Castellini (ITA) 1 minute 53.527 seconds
17. Philipp Oettl (GER) 1 minute 53.583 seconds
18. Lukas Trautmann (AUT) 1 minute 53.594 seconds
19. Yui Watanabe (JAP) 1 minute 53.705 seconds
20. Simon Danilo (FRA) 1 minute 53.867 seconds
21. Stefano Manzi (ITA) 1 minute 54.076 seconds
22. Tarran Mackenzie (GBR) 1 minute 54.223 seconds
23. Filippo Scalbi (ITA) 1 minute 54.756 seconds
24. Jorge Martin(ESP) 1 minute 54.960 seconds

“It’s a dream come true,” said Sissis. “This has been the best year of my life. I have learnt so much in the Rookies Cup. I was a speedway rider before and learnt everything about road racing in the Cup. I know that racing in the GP class is a new challenge but I’m ready for it.”

Sissis finished 2nd in the 2011 Cup behind Lorenzo Baldassarri. The 15 year old Italian is too young to race in GPs and will stay in the Rookies Cup for 2012. His year, along with the other 23 Rookies, starts with the pre season test at Estoril in Portugal on April 2nd with the first contest of the 15 race season at Jerez on April 28th.

The 24 Rookies represent 14 nations from across the globe, from Japan and South Africa, the breadth of Europe to the United States of America. They will race at 8 Grands Prix across Europe in 15 races and been seen around the world on more than 50 TV stations. The best rider at the end of the season is guaranteed a place in the factory KTM Moto3 team for 2013.

2012 Provisional Calendar*

Pre Season Test
April 2,3,5 – Estoril, Portugal

Races
April 28th / 29th – Jerez,Spain [races 1+2]
May 5th / 6th – Estoril, Portugal [races 3+4]
June 16th / 17th – Silverstone, United Kingdom [races 5+6]
June 29th / 30th – Assen, Netherlands [races 7+8]
July 7th / 8th – Sachsenring, Germany [races 9+10]
August 25th / 26th – Brno, Czech Republic [races 11+12]
September 15th – Misano, Republic of San Marino [race 13]
September 29th / 30th – Aragon, Spain [races 14+15]

* subject to changes in MotoGP calendar

Provisional Entry List

3 Diego Perez (ESP)
5 Philipp Oettl (GER)
6 María Herrera (ESP)
7 Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA)
8 Hafiq Azmi (MAS)
11 Livio Loi (BEL)
18 Aaron Espana (ESP)
21 Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
25 Willi Albert (GER)
27 Joe Roberts (USA)
28 Bradley Ray (GBR)
29 Stefano Manzi (ITA)
34 Jordan Weaving (RSA)
46 Yui Watanabe (JPN)
47 Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
50 Lukas Trautmann (AUT)
66 Florian Alt (GER)
75 Ivo Lopes (POR)
77 Kyle Ryde (GBR)
88 Jorge Martín (ESP)
89 Alan Techer (FRA)
94 Simon Danilo (FRA)
95 Scott Deroue (NED)
98 Karel Hanika (CZE)

Source: Red Bull Rookies

The format from the first two days was repeated and groups of seven or eight riders each had a 15 minute session in the morning and another in the afternoon to show their abilities to the judging panel. After the panel had deliberated the invitation list was read out to the tense and expectant assembly.

Youngster Bradley Ray was the only British rider who made it through the selection process and he will join fellow Brit Kyle Ride on the Rookies grid next season.

Invited from Aragon
Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
Simon Danilo (FRA)
Karel Hanika (CZE)
María Herrera (ESP)
Livio Loi (BEL)
Stefano Manzi (ITA)
Jorge Martín (ESP)
Diego Perez (ESP)
Bradley Ray (GBR)
Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
Jordan Weaving (RSA)

2012 Provisional Entry List
Willi Albert (GER)
Florian Alt (GER)
Hafiq Azmi (MAS)
Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA)
Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
Simon Danilo (FRA)
Scott Deroue (NED)
Aaron Espana (ESP)
Josep Garcia (ESP)
Karel Hanika (CZE)
María Herrera (ESP)
Livio Loi (BEL)
Ivo Lopes (POR)
Stefano Manzi (ITA)
Jorge Martín (ESP)
Philipp Oettl (GER)
Diego Perez (ESP)
Bradley Ray (GBR)
Joe Roberts (USA)
Kyle Ryde (GBR)
Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
Alan Techer (FRA)
Lukas Trautmann (AUT)
Yui Watanabe (JPN)
Jordan Weaving (RSA)

Source: Red Bull Rookies