CARTER THOMPSON TAKES FIRST WIN IN RED BULL ROOKIES

Australia’s Carter Thompson has taken a breakthrough win in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The 17-year-old from NSW overcame a sub-optimal qualifying and long lap penalty in Race 2 of the opening round at Jerez to achieve the victory.

Coming into this year’s Red Bull Rookies Cup, Thompson’s best result had been a pair of sixth place finishes at Aragon last year. In 2023, his first year in the junior development championship, Thompson’s best race result was tenth.

Carter Thompson takes first win in Red Bull Rookies — *Thompson’s victory at Jerez came in his third season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Photo: Gold & Goose - Red Bull*

At Jerez, Thompson topped the opening Free Practise session at Jerez and was fifth fastest in the second, but a crash in qualifying meant the Aussie would start from ninth on the grid for the weekend’s two races.

In the first 14-lap race, Brian Uriarte (Spain) took the win ahead of Hakim Danish (Malaysia) and Veda Pratama (Indonesia), with Thompson fourth, leading home an eight-rider train. Despite finishing more than six seconds adrift of the winner, this was still Thompson’s best result in Red Bull Rookies.

Race 2 saw Danish take the holeshot ahead of Uriarte, with Thompson climbing from ninth to fifth by the end of lap one, then fourth a lap later. When Uriarte crashed on lap 6, Thompson was elevated into podium contention behind Danish and Benat Fernandez (Spain).

A minor collision between Thompson and Pratama on lap 9 saw the Indonesian crash out and the Aussie handed a long lap penalty. Having to serve that penalty saw Thompson drop back to ninth with three laps to go. Remarkably, he recovered to be in podium contention, setting a new fastest lap along the way. In the end, Thompson held off Danish and Kristian Daniel (USA) to take the win – his first in Red Bull Rookies.

“It was a weekend of firsts for me,” Thompson said “First time Mum has seen me race in Rookies, first time with my new mechanic, Pablo, first time I have topped a Rookies session, first time leading a lap in the race, and best of all, first time on the podium – and to stand on the top step and hear my national anthem made it even more special.”