INDIA in F1

Tag: Road to MotoGP

  • Geoffrey Emmanuel survives big crash to finish debut race: JrGP, road to MotoGP

    Geoffrey Emmanuel survives big crash to finish debut race: JrGP, road to MotoGP

    Estoril (Portugal), 7 May 2023: India’s Geoffrey Emmanuel, despite a high-side crash in qualifying session, went on to complete his debut race in the first round of the FIM World Championship JuniorGP at the famed Circuit do Estoril on Sunday.

    Chennai-born 18-year old Geoffrey, the first and lone Indian rider in the JuniorGP, crashed in the very first flying lap of the qualifying session on Saturday and could not post a time. However, he was still allowed to race on Sunday because of his times in free practice sessions, but had to start from the back of the 29-bike grid and eventually finished 22nd.

    Geoffrey, who is sponsored by Fairstreet Sports, Vidiem, Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation and Gusto Racing India, had a very good start in the race. Despite having just 35 minutes of track time on the bike and nursing injuries, he did well to stick on to the last bunch in Moto3. After a red flag due to crashes and a restart of a shortened five-lap race, he moved up to 19th spot before finishing the race in 22nd position with some good battles with the seasoned Moto3 riders.

    Earlier, in Free Practice 1, Geoffrey rode the 2018 bike until the new engine arrived for the season, and was fitted on to the new chassis. It meant he could ride only for the last 15 minutes of FP2. His FP3 outing was curtailed to 20 minutes of track time due to rains.

    Reflecting on his performance, Geoffrey said: “I enjoyed riding at the highest level of the junior World Championship. I have been learning and improving with every lap on the new bike even though I wasn’t at my best physically. Now, we are looking forward to round two in Valencia, Spain, later this month. I would like to thank my sponsors Fairstreet sports, Vidiem, Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation and Gusto Racing India.”

    The second round of the championship, which is a junior class race event that runs under FIM Moto3 regulations and acts as a Moto3 World Championship feeder class, will be held at the Circuit do Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain, on May 20-21.

  • Road to MotoGP: 5 Talent Cup riders for 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

    Road to MotoGP: 5 Talent Cup riders for 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

    Five riders from Dorna’s talent promotion projects have been selected to take the next step on the Road to MotoGP and race in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2021: Harrison Voight, Eddie O’Shea, Freddie Heinrich, Soma Görbe and Jakob Rosenthaler. 

    Harrison Voight began his Road to MotoGP in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup in 2019 and made impressive progress from the off, becoming a frontrunner by early 2020 as he took a debut podium in Qatar. The Gold Coast native also took on the new challenge of racing in the Hawkers European Talent Cup in 2020 and put together an impressive rookie season, ending the year in the top ten overall and taking two podiums. The Australian has been selected by Dorna Sports to race in the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.  

    Eddie O’Shea came third overall in the 2020 Honda British Talent Cup. A frontunner from the off in 2020, he started the year in the top five and was on the podium by Round 2. From there his run of rostrum finishes continued and his consistency saw him lead the standings for much of the latter part of the season. O’Shea showed impressive pace and progress throughout 2020 to earn himself a place in the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, selected by Dorna. 

    Freddie Heinrich won the first Northern Talent Cup race and fought for the inaugural crown, taking a podium in every race before ending 2020 in third overall after his season was curtailed by injury. The German’s impressive performances were nevertheless enough to see him selected by Dorna to join the Red Bull Rookies Cup grid in 2021 as the NTC rider deemed to have shown the most impressive progress and/or potential this season. 

    Heinrich’s fellow NTC competitors Soma Görbe and Jakob Rosenthaler will also take the next step on the Road to MotoGP™ and race in the Rookies in 2021. Görbe is the inaugural Northern Talent Cup Champion and took the most wins in 2020, and Rosenthaler showed consistent speed before becoming a podium finisher by the close of the season. Both have been selected by Red Bull as part of the selection process for the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup as the NTC takes its place as a valuable stepping-stone on the Road to MotoGP.