Italian rider Riccardo Russo began riding on minimoto bikes as a youngster before taking part in the 125cc Italian Championship for the first time in 2008. Continuing his development through the categories in the same national series and also experiencing European competition, he would become Italian Superstock 600 champion and runner-up in the European Championship in the same class in 2012. In 2013 he moved into the Supersport FIM World Championship and then into the EVO category in Superbikes this year. Midseason he got his chance in Grand Prix as he joined Tasca Racing from Brno onwards to replace Alex de Angelis in Moto2™.