Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Launches Champion Jorge Martín's Career

In an emotional World Champions Press Conference on Sunday, Jorge Martín hailed the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup as the catalyst for his Grand PrixWorld Championship success, emphasizing that without it, he wouldn't be standing here today.

"My family was normal, not poor, but I was told I was too young to try a 125cc bike, so they advised me to come back in a year. Fast forward to when I won the Cup three years later and it was incredibly emotional because if they haven't picked me at that time, I might have left motorbikes altogether."

Martín's journey from Rookies Cup winner to World Champion was marked by hard work and dedication, despite facing various setbacks throughout his career. He finished 12th in his first season and took another year to regain his footing, but eventually dominated the 2014 season, winning six races on his way to lifting the Cup.

From there, Martín's journey continued with more wins in the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships before ultimately graduating to the MotoGP class in 2021. Last year, he came close to securing the title, and this year, he has finally put it all together, winning incredible pace with title-winning consistency.

Martín is now a three-time World Champion, with ten years of experience spanning three classes – Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP. His impressive record boasts 18 GP victories and a total of 60 podiums.

In light of this year's results, Martín has been crowned not only the most successful ex-Rookies Cup but also tied with David Alonso, who matched his 18 GP victories while winning the Moto3 World Championship. Colombian rider David Alonso secured an impressive record by winning four Moto3 GPs in 2023 and a remarkable 14 this season.

Other newcomers to the list of former Rookies Cup winners have emerged, showcasing the cup's successful history as launching pads for careers at the top level. Japanese rider Ai Ogura (23) won the Moto2 World Championship after contesting the Rookies Cup in 2017, while Toprak Razgatlıoğlu has made it four world titles by winning this year's Superbike World Championship, his second win of this era, finishing tied with Martín on the list.