Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
From a field of 30 in 2022, to 28 in 2023, to 26 in 2024, the Moto3 grid may be dwindling, but if anything, it is growing in excitement and competitiveness.
With three of the top four departing the series to continue their journey up the motorsport ladder, it leaves a wide-open championship battle. Across 21 races, the young guns of motorbike racing will battle it out for the prize they all want: The championship trophy. So here is what to expect for Moto3 in 2024.
The Favourites
Until mid-season in 2023, it looked like Daniel Holgado was heading for championship glory. But a series of bad performances, coupled with unlucky incidents in the likes of Assen and Barcelona meant his championship challenge dwindled off, leaving him finishing a lowly 5th.
Yet, with three other riders ahead in the standings stepping up to Moto2, he has a better chance than ever. It's now his third year onboard the Red Bull KTM bike, so the chance is now for Holgado to prove he is worthy of a move up the ladder.
The only man ahead of Holgado in the 2023 championship, remaining in the series, is Colombian David Alonso. Nobody knew quite what to expect from Alonso in 2023, and after a slow start, it wasn’t much.
Yet Alonso astonished everybody, taking four wins and multiple podiums, finishing a remarkable third in the championship, the highest rookie by over 90 points. He shone with some exceptional performances, and certainly isn’t afraid to get his elbows out. Onboard the GasGas machine renowned for introducing Champions, all the omens are pointing towards him being a major championship contender in 2024.
New Rookies
Joel Esteban joins the GasGas squad facing the ominous task of being teammate to David Alonso. Having finished fourth in the JuniorGP series in 2023, he is tasked with helping GasGas try and regain the team’s championship glory, having last clinched the biggest piece of silverware back in 2022.
The Spaniard has a stellar junior career to his name, taking two wins last year. He will be looking to repeat the feat and take it three steps further, taking himself to Moto3 championship glory.
After four wildcard appearances in the 2023 season for Honda Team Asia, Tatchakorn Buasri will be carrying a nation on his back in the Moto3 class which has had no Thai riders since 2018.
He ended a promising 11th in the Junior GP series in 2023, claiming one podium in the Algarve round. But with amazing success in the likes of the Thai Talent Cup and more, he certainly knows how to win when asked to do so.
Aged only 17, the speedy Spaniard Angel Piqueras has blown minds away with some absolutely amazing performances in the likes of Junior GP, winning by a mega 82 points in 2023. He will link up with the Leopard squad, and will have the challenge of emulating outgoing champion Jaume Masia’s stunning 2023 season.
David Almansa certainly impressed in his 5 races as wildcard and replacement in 2023. In a wet and wild Argentina, he came incredibly close to a podium in only his 2nd ever race in the class. Along with that, he claimed victory in a JuniorGP season plagued with retirements. His talent is certainly there, and he links up with the Rivacold Snipers squad for the 2024 season.
Another rider graduating from the star-studded JuniorGP series, Luca Lunetta enjoyed an extremely consistent and measured season, finishing runners-up. Said to be one of Italy’s up and coming superstars, he joins the Sic58 Squadra Corse squad, and with previous experience of being a wildcard in both 2022 and 2023, he will be one to look out for in 2024.
Swiss rider Noah Detwiller joins CIP Green Power for the 2024 season. Nicknamed ‘the crazy little guy’, the 18-year old from Basel will look to improve after a rather underwhelming 19th place in Junior GP 2023. It has to be said he did quietly impress in his two wildcard appearances around Spielberg and Mandalika, having being thrown into the deep end and left on his own, on two totally different circuits.
KTM Ajo look to have struck gold with the perfect replacement for seemingly irreplaceable Deniz Oncu, in Spanish superstar Xabi Zurutuza. A JuniorGP season filled with promise could’ve been so much more if it wasn’t for unlucky retirements, but Zurutuza still showed his class with two race victories in Algarve and Barcelona.
Although he may miss the season opener due to age restrictions, watch out as Zurutuza will be one to watch in 2024.
Australia will now have two riders to watch in Moto3, as Jacob Rousltone joins the grid, at Red Bull KTM Tech3. The 18 year old from Wollongong only started his European journey in 2020 but has shone in everything he has participated in.
Only finishing outside the top 10 in one of the races he finished in 2023, he is an extremely consistent and methodical rider, and will be looking for another consistent season in his debut in the class.
The Underdogs
After an abysmal first half of the 2023 Moto3 season yielding only two points, Taiyo Furusato’s 2nd half of 2023 was one to savor with a series of outstanding performances including a podium at the Thai Grand Prix.
Still only 18, and two seasons of experience under his belt, he has all the experience needed to have his best season yet, and maybe even strive for victories and more. And with a rookie teammate, he will be looking to lead the Honda Team Asia squad to greater things in 2024.
Matteo Bertelle experienced flashes of greatness in 2023, but unfortunately luck and pace didn’t always fall in the Italian’s favor.
Coming so close to a podium in Sepang and numerous exceptional qualifying performances were some of the highlights in a season that promised so much. Sticking with the Rivacold Snipers squad, he has all the talent and speed, and with the rub of the green, he can certainly be a contender at the front consistently this season.
Slow start, ferocious finish was the story of a dazzling debut season for Dutchman Collin Veijer. A stunning Sepang victory amidst searing heat was the obvious high, in a season when he gave veteran teammate Ayumu Sasaki a serious run for his money.
It will be the same scenario with another experienced Japanese rider, Tatsuki Suzuki pushing him all the way. Veijer is capable of handling the challenge, but will the start of the season blues hold Veijer down again?
David Munoz certainly knows how to get his elbows out. Bold, brave, and very much boisterous, it is somewhat remarkable Munoz is only 17 after being in the championship for two seasons.
His aggressive style has brought many highs, but has also come crashing down many times. In a 2023 campaign marred by injury, he still pulled off a tenacious 10th, and will be looking to improve on that this season.
The omens just didn't fall for Ryusei Yamanaka in 2023. Onboard a super fast GasGas bike, his talent was proven, having scored points in all but three races in 2023.
Unfortunately, he always ended up on the wrong end of the 15 rider packs in the majority of races. Onboard the MT Helmets-MSi bike, a team renowned for producing talent under the radar, he will have to perform to stay in the series in 2025, let alone move up to Moto2.
A rider possessing talent clear as crystal, he will need to step up and put on a show, should he move ahead on the motorbike racing ladder.
Jose Antonio Rueda is another extremely consistent rider looking to bolster a strong 2023 campaign. Third in the rookie standings, the 18 year old Sevillanos showed his class immediately, with fourth on debut in an amazing Algarve performance. Sticking with the KTM squad, he will remain with the backing of Red Bull, and will look to get even more bullish out at the front end this year.
Riccardo Rossi is still very fortunate to be on the grid in 2024. After his proposed move to Prustel GP shattered due to the team pulling out, he barged Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon out of his CIP Green Power seat, and managed to get himself on the grid.
A veteran on the grid, he has only improved since his debut in 2019. And he will have to keep on improving to show he still deserves a seat in what is an ever-changing and increasingly competitive field, to show he can step up (finally) to Moto2.
The Storylines and the Reward
New circuits, teams and riders alike, Moto3 2024 will certainly be a season to remember. With only Japanese rider Tatsuki Suzuki surpassing the age of 22, the grid is extremely young, meaning more crazy racing, and more chaos.
So if that’s your calling, Moto3 is for you. 21 rounds reaching all corners of the world await, with high-octane, high thrill racing guaranteed.
With three of the top five in 2023 graduating to Moto2, it proves there are chances for those who impress. It only means the hunger is greater than ever for these 26 riders, and with a new champion guaranteed, who knows what to expect?
The season starts on March 10th in Lusail, Qatar. Don’t miss it.
The Grid
CFMoto Aspar Racing Team- Joel Esteban and David Alonso
Honda Team Asia- Tatchakorn Buasri and Taiyo Furusato
Leopard Racing- Adrian Fernandez and Angel Piqueras
MLav Racing- Scott Ogden and Joshua Whatley
Rivacold Snipers Team- Matteo Bertelle and David Almansa
Sic58 Squadra Corse- Filippo Farioli and Luca Lunetta
Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP- Tatsuki Suzuki and Colin Veijer
Boe Motorsports- David Munoz and Joel Kelso
CIP Green Power- Riccardo Rossi and Noah Detwiller
MT Helmets - MSi- Ryusei Yamanaka and Ivan Ortola
MTA Team- Nicolo Carraro and Stefano Nepa
Red Bull KTM Ajo- Xabi Zurutuza and Jose Antonio Rueda
Red Bull KTM Tech3- Jacob Roulstone and Daniel Holgado
The 26-rider grid is marred by the absence of the Prustel GP Team. After 12 years in the series, the team dramatically pulled out, just prior to the season finale at Valencia in 2023