Andalucia and the classic Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto host the third and fourth rounds of the season for the JTT
After two rounds in Portugal, it’s time to head to Spain for Rounds 3 and 4 of the FIM CEV Repsol. That means it’s time for the Junior Talent Team to get suited and booted too, and there’s a lot on the line: three races in two days put 75 points on the table in Andalucia – as well as plenty of track time to keep moving forward.
Max Cook is the leading JTT rider on the way in to Round 3, having taken two seven places in the opening two races of the year to put him – fittingly – seventh overall. That’s an impressive opener for the British sophomore and he’ll be aiming for more top tens, and will likely soon want to knock on the door to the top five. Australian Billy Van Eerde, meanwhile, had a 0 in the first round but bounced back with what was also his best finish yet in the second, taking 9th place. He’ll want more points and another place in that coveted top ten as he aims to consolidate his position in the top ten overall, too.
Japanese rider Takuma Matsuyama is equal on points with Van Eerde, as he also has a ninth place to his name. As a rookie, that’s impressive work and he most definitely hit the ground running in Portugal. Can he keep that going at Jerez? It’s a track where many have more experience, so he’ll be looking to make the most of practice sessions to get himself set up for race day.
Scott Ogden also took an impressive finish last time out. He completed the top ten in Portimão for his first six points, and he has some experience of Jerez from his first forays with the Junior Talent Team as a replacement rider last year. With more track time, the new kids on the block will be hoping to make steps from Portugual and then from Race 1 to 2 to 3 by the close of Round 4.
This time, it’ll be the full squad racing in Spain as Indonesian Mario Aji and Thai rider Tatchakorn Buasri get back on track too. Aji has a top ten in his pocket already from Jerez last year and will be eager to be back on the bike with the JTT, and for Buasri Jerez will be his debut. The Thai rider has plenty of sessions to look forward to – with the double round weekend certainly giving him chance to try and play some catch up with his fellow rookies in the JTT.
Two rounds, one weekend, and three races. On Saturday the 29th of August, the lights go out for the Moto3™ field at 13:00 (GMT +2), before Sunday ushers in the next round and two more Moto3™ races. The first begins at 11:00 and the second at 14:00.
