Angel Piqueras
Born in Requena on 30 November 2006, Angel Piqueras is undoubtedly one of the most talented riders of his generation.
The Spaniard discovered the world of motorcycling at the age of four, under the influence of a father with a passion for motocross.
His talent quickly became apparent, most notably in 2013 when, at just seven years old, he finished third in the Spanish Minibike Championship, before going one better the following year by finishing runner-up.
In 2015, Angel made a name for himself by winning the Valencia 110 and 140 championships, as well as finishing third in the 110 category of the illustrious Cuna de Campeones, which has brought many riders to the fore.
Continuing his progress, he finished second in the 2017 Cuna, after finishing fourth the previous year.
In 2018 he made his debut in the Spanish ESBK Moto4 Championship, where he finished fourth as a rookie, before taking the crown in 2019.
A performance that naturally opened the doors to the European Talent Cup. Sixth in 2020, then seventh in 2021, he joined the MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2022. In his first season he showed the extent of his talent with three wins and fourth place overall.
The year 2023 confirmed his status as a revelation: with nine victories in 14 races he was crowned champion with two rounds to go, a record 115 points ahead of his nearest rival.
But that wasn't all! Piqueras also claimed the Junior GP title with no fewer than nine podium finishes, including four victories in the Estrella Galicia colours.
Until then only one rider had managed the Red Bull/Junior GP double: José Antonio Rueda in 2022.
These achievements caught the eye of the Leopard Racing team, who decided to take him into the MotoGP World Championship for the 2024 season, marking a key stage in the young Spaniard's promising career.