A four-rider team from Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and the UK will contest the 2021 FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship with the Junior Talent Team
The line-up for the 2021 Junior Talent Team can now be announced, comprising three returning Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup alumni and one rookie picked from the British Talent Cup. Promoting and providing opportunities for young talent from different paths on the Road to MotoGP™, the JTT unifies three team names under the same umbrella and unites the efforts of Dorna Talent Promotion programs, including the sponsors and partners who provide important backing to young riders and teams. In 2021 the project will once again count on the valuable support of Honda, Kushitani, Astra Honda and AP Honda.
#16 Mario Aji (INA) – Astra Honda Racing Team
#31 Eddie O’Shea (GBR) – British Talent Team
#32 Takuma Matsuyama (JPN) – Asia Talent Team
#33 Tatchakorn Buasri (THA) – AP Honda Racing Thailand
Indonesian Mario Aji remains with the Junior Talent Team for his third season in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship following more impressive progress in 2020, coming 14th overall despite missing some races due to travel restrictions and taking a best finish of sixth.
2019 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup runner-up Takuma Matsuyama and fellow frontrunner Tatchakorn Buasri both return to the fold too. Matsuyama had an incredible rookie season in 2020 with a best finish of fourth and the Japanese rider will be looking to build on that in 2021. Buasri, meanwhile, likewise impressed despite injury and travel restrictions putting a dent in the early part of the Thai rider’s 2020 season.
Rookie Eddie O’Shea is an addition for 2021. O’Shea led the standings for much of the 2020 Honda British Talent Cup and impressed with his performances and progress, earning him a seat with the JTT in 2021, where he will race in British Talent Team colours.
Max Cook, Billy Van Eerde and Scott Ogden all depart the team for 2021. Van Eerde will move to join Team MT-Foundation77, and Ogden moves to the Aspar Junior Team. Both are already confirmed to contest the 2021 FIM Moto3™ JWCh in their respective new teams.
