Dorna Sports is delighted to welcome the all new bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup as the newest path on the Road to MotoGP™. The new status for the series adds to the opportunities provided to young riders in the region in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and Red Bull Rookies Cup, continuing the support provided by Motorcycling Australia, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and FIM Oceania, the regional representatives of the FIM. In addition, to afford the best opportunity possible to those in the region, selected riders from the Oceania Junior Cup will also be given the chance to attend the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event in 2019.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup takes place at six rounds held in Australia, in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – including a round at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which is also the venue for pre-season testing. Youngsters also get the chance to learn from the best, with Australian veteran racer Damian Cudlin on hand to lend his experience as Official Coach for the Cup.
After incredible interest from riders across Oceania, entries for 2019 are now closed and the finalists for the inaugural Oceania Junior Cup will be announced soon.
Peter Goddard, Motorcycling Australia President: “For Dorna to endorse the Oceania Junior Cup under the Road to MotoGP program is an exciting opportunity for all involved and adds a substantial level of credibility to what we are trying to achieve. Such an important partnership cements the key criteria of the program, creating a clear progression plan between the Oceania Junior Cup and the world stage. The development of the next World Champion from our region has received a huge boost today.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “We are delighted to welcome another series to our Road to MotoGP program. The Road to MotoGP is going from strength to strength and has an incredibly successful record in finding and promoting talent. The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup will be an asset to the program and perfectly complements our aims for the Oceania region. We’re excited to begin this new collaboration.”
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About the Road to MotoGP™
A stunningly high percentage of riders across MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes came from the various Road to MotoGP™ programmes, with every permanent rider in the Moto3™ World Championship now having raced in a series on the Road to MotoGP™. Dorna has been deeply involved in young rider programs since before the turn of the millennium, beginning with the FIM CEV Repsol and the Movistar Junior Cup - then going on to include initiatives such as the Asia Talent Cup, the British Talent Cup and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup now becomes the latest to be included as part of the talent promotion programme.