Twelve Aussie juniors invited to Asia Talent Cup selection

The Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (ATC) has released the list of riders invited to take part in this year’s selection event, the results of which will determine the grid for 2026. Riders from Australia were on an invite list that covered 18 countries, mostly in the Asia Pacific region, but also including India, Sri Lanka and the Middle East.

While hundreds of teenage riders applied for ATC selection, a thorough evaluation process by the Selection Committee saw only 83 invited to October’s selection event at Sepang.

Of the countries on the selection shortlist, Malaysia had the largest representation with 17. Ten were invited from Indonesia, nine each from Japan and Thailand, and five from the Philippines, with smaller numbers from China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam. The reach of the ATC also saw riders invited from Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Palestine.

Twelve Aussie juniors have been invited to this year’s ATC selection event, up from seven in 2024. Of those dozen, Bodie Paige, Matthew Ritter and Isaac Ayad also made the invite list last year. The newcomers are Bodie Paige’s younger brother, Jake, plus Hunter Corney, Adam Jorda, Nikolas Lazos, Jed Louis, Phoenix O’Brien, Orlando Peovitis, Judd Plaisted and Ghage Plowman. At 13, Plaisted and Louis are the youngest of the local group, with the oldest being Jorda, Plowman and Ritter, who are 16.

Of the Aussies racing in the ATC this year, Archie Schmidt sits 11th in the championship after three rounds, with Paige 16th and Rikki Henry 20th. Runaway leader is Japan’s Ryota Ogiwara, who is undefeated at time of writing.

The 2026 ATC selection event will take place at the Sepang International Kart Circuit on 22 October, 2025, just ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Shortlisted riders must demonstrate sufficient skill and ability to make the 2025 ATC entry list, with the Selection Committee observing each rider’s performance on track, as well as analysing data from their laps to determine the final field.

Following this selection process, the best 20 riders, plus reserves, will be offered a place on the 2026 ATC grid.