Red Bull Rookies Cup: Swiss rider Alessio Arnold has made it

This year’s selection process for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, which will enter its 21st season in 2027, also took place in Guadix in southern Spain. A total of 127 riders from 45 nations had applied for places and were invited to the selection process. Following the three-day selection marathon, it became clear that there will be a new German-speaking representative in 2027 in the form of Switzerland’s Alessio Arnold.

Germany’s Anina Urlass, Thias Wenzel and Smilla Göttlich, as well as Austria’s Tobias Kitzbichler and Paul Linsbichler, were also present in Guadix, but they did not make the cut this time round. The fact is: eight new riders will be entering the 2027 Cup season. Arnold, who turns 16 on 20 November, comes from near Lucerne and is coached and advised by Swiss top rider Tom Lüthi, had already taken part in the selection process last year.

“I’ve improved as a rider compared to last year, and I’ve also grown a bit taller and heavier, so I was confident I could do a good job this time,” explained Arnold. “I don’t have huge expectations for my first year in the Rookies Cup; I mainly want to learn as much as possible and perhaps pick up a few points.”

Alongside Arnold, the Spaniard Victor Cubeles – who, incidentally, is a protégé of multiple champion Jorge Lorenzo and his father – also made the cut in Guadix. He is joined by his compatriots Alex Longarela (17) and Alvaro Lucas (16), as well as the French riders Jimmy Primaut (16) and Johann Dubois (14), and the Italians Lorenzo Pritelli (16) and Mathias Tamburini (16).

Incidentally, as the winner of the 2026 Moto4 Northern Cup, Germany’s Robin Siegert has also secured a place in the 2027 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.