In the 125cc world championship, this year’s KTM riders are Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN), Randy Krummenacher (SUI) and Stevie Bonsey (USA). Mika Kallio (FIN) and Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) will fight for KTM wins and the title in the 250cc world championship. The rider to earn the overall victory in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will be known in Valencia at the latest. But in any event the winner is – KTM.
The 2007 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will be run on top spec machinery – a KTM RC 125, a specially developed race model for rookies.
The bikes of the young riders will be appropriately motorised by 45 HP, and technically supervised by Gustl Auinger, the five time motorcycle GP winner from Austria, and the KTM team – true to the motto: Ready to race!
Cooperation between Red Bull, KTM and Dorna opens doors for talented young riders and possible future motorcycle champions.
The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is a unique program for fostering motorcycle talent in promising young riders who compete on actual Grand Prix circuits in front of huge crowds, on identical bikes and under identical conditions. The program is designed to create a level playing field so that the best and the brightest emerge at the top and no young talent is overlooked due to a lack of financial resources or professional backing.
“In the Cup it is important to have eventual: a real passion for racing and that you are fast on the bike,” says KTM Motorsports Manager Pit Beirer. “The KTM RC 125 bikes are all identical and are a very high standard. That means the fastest rider will win.”
With MotoGP enjoying increasing popularity and of ever growing importance in the international motorsports calendar, the Rookies Cup is vital for developing young motorcycle talent aged between 13 – 16 years. In the final selection process, riders were chosen not only on their results but also according to their personality, racing spirit, team spirit and sense of fair play. The competition is truly international in 2007 with an extended list of 23 riders from 10 nations.
KTM Road Racing Director Harald Bartol underlined that due to the fact that the riders were competing on bikes that were almost the same standard as the 125cc factory rider’s bikes, they were in the best possible position to be able to make the leap from the Rookies Cup into the World Championship competition. “From the 1,100 applicants we were also able to select the most talented candidates because money did not play the deciding role,” he added, underlining that unlike other similar programs, riders only have to finance their own travel costs while all other costs are covered.
For KTM, the company with the “Ready to Race” philosophy, engagement in the program is essential for discovering potential future factory riders. The rookie element also extends to the technical team – the 25 mechanics working on the program are all KTM trainees. KTM and Red Bull cooperate in a range of rookies programs, including the now concluded Red Bull Supermoto Junior Cup, which ran successfully for four years. The Rookies Cup gives the young riders the inimitable experience of competing on GP circuits in front of huge crowds, all riding identical KTM RC 125 machines.
Technical specifications - Rookies Cup Bike – KTM RC 125 Engine:Engine Type: single cylinder, 2-stroke
Displacement: 125 (cc)
Bore x Stroke: 54 / 54.5 (mm)
Performance: approx. 45 HP / 13.000 rpm
Torque: 30 Nm / 12.800 rpm
Compression ratio: 9:1
Transmission: 6 gears
Carburetor: Keihin 38
Cooling: Liquid cooled
Lubrication: Mixture lubrication
Ignition: CDI
Chassis: Frame: Aluminium twin spar frame
Suspension: front / rear WP Suspension
Brakes: front / rear Brembo Steeldisc
Rims: front / rear Marchesini
Fuel capacity: approx. 13 liters
Weight: 136 kg incl. Rider
Photographs by GEPA.
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