The Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup began in 2014 and has since established itself as one of the most biggest and most successful paths on the Road to MotoGP™. A series for riders between 14 and 17 years of age, the competitors race at five rounds alongside the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, with one round alongside Malaysian Superbike.
Each ATC round comprises two races, with the points system mirroring that of MotoGP™, and riders compete on identical, ATC-liveried Honda NSF250R Moto3™ machines.
There are places up for grabs on the next steps on the Road to MotoGP™, with riders from the ATC often selected to race in both the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
In 2023, several riders moved up, following in the footsteps of the likes of former ATC Champions and race winners Kaito Toba, Ayumu Sasaki, Deniz Öncü, Somkiat Chantra and Ai Ogura, all of whom are now Grand Prix winners or podium finishers in Moto3™ and Moto2™.
For more than two decades, Dorna Sports has invested in opening the doors to motorcycle racing, creating the Road to MotoGP™. Comprising initiatives all over the world providing millions of young riders the opportunity to excel, the Road to MotoGP™ is unrivalled in motorsport – opening doors, increasing access and racing towards global equality.
The Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup provides an opportunity for the most talented young riders in Asia and Oceania to race and learn on the Road to MotoGP™. Riders compete on identical Honda NSF250R Moto3™ machinery and the organisation provides all-encompassing support to riders including insurance coverage, flight tickets and travel arrangements for each round, as well as managing the logistics involved in running a pan-Asian series. Renowned talent scout and former premier class racer Alberto Puig is also on board to help foster the careers of the young riders from the region.
The ATC is run by Dorna Sports, the organiser of the MotoGP™ World Championship, the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship and the Northern Talent Cup, as well as co-organiser of the Honda British Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
