Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Masaki is 2017 Champion Kazuki Masaki clinched the 2017 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in a thrilling battle at Aragon, Spain, on Saturday September 23 with one race in hand. In an incredible penultimate race for the 2017 season, the 17-year old Japanese rider timed his attack perfectly on the final lap to flash across the line on his #39 KTM RC 250 RBR one hundredth of a second ahead of fellow countryman, Ai Ogura, with his main title rivals Aleix Viu (Spain) in third and Can Öncü (Turkey) in fifth position. Fortunately for Kazuki that he wrapped up the Cup with race victory on Saturday, because in the weekend’s second race (September 24) the champion couldn’t miss the sliding machine of Ogura, who crashed in front of him on lap 8. Though a lap behind, Masaki showed his pedigree by remounting and then setting the fastest lap of the race. Despite the result, Masaki said smiling, "Yes, I am glad I won the Cup yesterday, of course this can happen. I changed the bike for today, lifted the back a bit and it was better. I was very confident in the race, I really thought I could win but these things happen. I was determined to get back in the race if I could and happy to have the fastest lap." Kazuki, from Fukuoka, enjoys Physical Education at school, he also likes his fitness training and playing video games. His racing hero is former KTM rider and two-time MotoGPTM champion, Casey Stoner, and he plans to follow the Australian’s example. "I hope to become a MotoGP rider in the future. I really want to become successful in this division and go on to win many championships." KTM has always invested heavily into youth racing projects and, since 2007, teenagers from around the world know that the best way of getting a start in Grand Prix motorcycle racing is by entering the KTM-powered Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The talent-nurturing series is powered by the KTM RC 250 RBR – based heavily on KTM’s RC 250 GP Moto3 machine, making the transition from Rookies to the World Championship easier. Following seven European rounds of the MotoGPTM championship, the races produced by this youth class are equally as thrilling as each of World Championship series they support. In 2017, 25 riders from 13 nations were represented and they are studied closely by the Grand Prix paddock, who watch the intense action of the Rookies races picking out future stars. Graduates from the series have gone on to battle in Moto3, Moto2 and now MotoGP. In 2015, the Moto3 and Moto2 World Champions, Danny Kent and Johann Zarco, were both ex-Rookies and Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider and the 2016 Moto3 champion, Brad Binder, is also a product of the Rookies Cup. With KTM now represented in all Grand Prix classes, it is possible for a Rookies Cup rider to go all the way to MotoGP with KTM. Check out this video to look at some of the high-profile Rookies Cup graduates and discover more about the series at http://rookiescup.redbull.com/. Results Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup MotorLand Aragon 2017 Race 12/13 – September 23 1. Kazuki Masaki (JAP), 30:51.679 min (15 laps) 2. Ai Ogura (JAP), +0.010 sec 3. Alex Viu (ESP), +0.159 4. Deniz Öncü (TUR), +0.197 5. Can Öncü (TUR), +0.693 Race 13/13 – September 24 1. Alex Viu (ESP), 30:49.450 min (15 laps) 2. Adrian Carrasco (ESP), +2.941 sec 3. Omar Bonoli (ITA), +3.045 4. Ryusei Yamanaka (JAP), +3.067 5. Filip Salac (CZE), +3.116 Final Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2017 after 13 of 13 races 1. Kazuki Masaki (JAP), 194 points (2017 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion) 2. Alex Viu (ESP), 183 3. Can Öncü (TUR), 165 4. Deniz Öncü (TUR), 135 5. Ai Ogura (JAP), 124 RED BULL MOTOGP ROOKIES CUP CHAMPIONS TO DATE 2007 Johann Zarco 159 points, 57 clear of Lorenzo Savadori 2008 J. D. Beach 149 points, 4 clear of Luis Salom 2009 Jakub Kornfeil 132 points, 2 clear of Sturla Fagerhaug 2010 Jacob Gagne 170 points, 6 clear of Danny Kent 2011 Lorenzo Baldassarri 208 points, 9 clear of Arthur Sissis 2012 Florian Alt 233 points, 56 clear of Scott Deroue 2013 Karel Hanika 235 points, 72 clear of Jorge Martín 2014 Jorge Martín 254 points, 57 clear of Joan Mir 2015 Bo Bendsneyder 243 points, 49 clear of Fabio Di Giannantonio 2016 Ayumu Sasaki 250 points, 49 clear of Alex Viu 2017 Kazuki Masaki, 194 points, 11 clear of Alex Viu press.ktm.com media.ktm.com