MotoGP: 5 young riders to keep an eye on
MotoGP: 5 young riders to keep an eye on
Just a few days away from the 2016 MotoGP World Championship, we have picked out five young riders who are surely going to catch the attention of many around the globe.
We have selected riders who are 21 years old or younger. You might have of some but there are some who you may have not heard of. But what is beyond a measure of doubt is their exceptional talent.
So why not read on to find out who you should be watching very closely when the lights go out for Round 1 in Qatar.
Just a few days away from the 2016 MotoGP World Championship, we have picked out five young riders who are surely going to catch the attention of many around the globe.
We have selected riders who are 21 years old or younger. You might have of some but there are some who you may have not heard of. But what is beyond a measure of doubt is their exceptional talent.
So why not read on to find out who you should be watching very closely when the lights go out for Round 1 in Qatar.
Maverick Viñales – MotoGP – 21 years old
Chances are you’ll are already aware of Maverick Viñales. His rise to MotoGP has been nothing less than meteoric. He won his fourth-ever grand Prix in the 125cc class in 2011, secured the 2013 Moto3 World Championship with a last-lap, final-corner overtake, dominated Moto2 as a rookie in 2014 by winning four races in his only season, and stepped up to debut in MotoGP in 2015.
A mightily-impressive first year in the top flight, on a Suzuki that was new to MotoGP, only served to underline Viñales’ massive talent.
He remains with the Japanese manufacturer for a second season in 2016, and pre-season testing has so far indicated that the slight speed and horsepower disadvantages the machine had last year have been taken care of. Could Viñales break into the elite top group of riders in MotoGP? We think so.
Álex Rins – Moto2 – 20 years old
Like Viñales, Álex Rins hasn’t wasted any time in climbing the ladder of success in MotoGP, the young Spaniard certainly does not shy away from challenges.
When he burst onto the scenes, Rins was a Spanish champion and showed what he was capable of immediately. He then went awfully close to claiming the Moto3 title before he came into Moto2. Like Viñales before him (who, incidentally, beat Rins to that Moto3 title), Rins looked at ease on the bigger bike straight away.
A frequent podium finisher, he picked up a couple of wins as well on his way to coming second overall. He remains in Moto2 in 2016 and will be a title contender.
Fabio Quartararo – Moto3 – 16 years old
Such was the hype and expectation that was surrounding Fabio Quartararo that he was brought into the Moto3 World Championship at just 15, under the then-minimum age of 16, as the Spanish Moto3 champion.
His initial season was disrupted by injury last year, but he still showed what he’s capable of by finishing on the podium twice and qualifying on pole a couple of times as well. Injury-free and switching to the championship-winning Leopard Racing team on a Honda in 2016 should place Quartararo in prime position to realize his true potential. He’ll certainly be interesting to watch.
Enea Bastianini – Moto3 – 18 years old
Enea Bastianini has only just turned 18, yet he’s about to feature in his third season in the World Championship. His two Moto3 campaigns to date have been enough to showcase his immense talent. The Italian rider picked up more podiums and his first win last year as he established himself in the series.
A former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup participant, Bastianini continues with the Gresini team in 2016 and will surely be challenging for the title.
Nicòlo Bulega – Moto3 – 16 years old
A new kid on the block in Moto3 in 2016, Nicòlo Bulega comes with a very high reputation. He’s fresh from taking the title in the Moto3 Junior World Championship, and he placed 12th in the 2015 Moto3 race in Valencia as he made his race debut.
He received huge support from the VR46 Academy – Valentino Rossi’s set-up – and enters the World Championship with that same team.