Dutch youngster Hugo van den Berg first began his two wheel adventure on pocketbikes and at the age of 12 graduated to larger bikes in 2002 in the Dutch Aprilia RS 125cc Junior Cup. He gained further 125 experience in the Dutch and German national and European championships before making three Grand Prix appearances in 2005 at Assen, Catalunya, Sachsenring. In six Grand Prix outings last year he did enough to earn a regular seat this season with Blusens Aprilia, with whom he will ride alongside the experienced Spaniard Pablo Nieto.