After finishing runner-up in the national pocket bikes series in 1997 and winning the Catalunya scooter championship the following year, Raul Jara finished second behind Joan Olivé in the Movistar Activa Youth Cup organised by Alberto Puig in 1999 and was selected for the Telefonica Movistar Honda Junior Team to contest the Spanish 125 Championship. Jara finished equal on points with Olivé and was snapped up by Lucio Cecchinello to contest his first 125 World Championship with Aprilia. The friendly youngster found life difficult in his debut year but will be hoping to justify his undoubted potential in 2002 after stepping straight up to the 250 class.