Selection Event Preview The fastest are coming to Aragon Riders from 24 nations are making their way to Aragon in Spain for next week’s Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event, hungry for the chance to take part in the 2012 Cup. From around the globe, from Japan to Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa as well as the length and breadth of Europe the fastest teens all want to take that first step to Grand Prix stardom. Once again the Selection Event allows those invited from the online applicants to show their skills on track in front of the panel of experts. Over 100 riders will each get 2 sessions during a day of testing on identical machines and around half are then asked to attend a 2nd day when they again show their skills so that the panel can decide on the small group of up to 15 that will be invited to join the Rookies Cup in 2012. It is a very tough selection process, half the riders get their first chance on Monday October 10th with the 2nd half going on track on Tuesday. Those selected from the 1st 2 days are then asked to remain for the final selection on Wednesday October 12th. The list of those who are invited to join the 2012 cup will be published shortly after as will the list of those riders retained from this year’s Cup. The entry for 2012 is likely to be 24. The online entry has been even larger this year as the Cup continues to gain strength and international coverage as the prime entry point for the World Championship. A point emphasised by Johann Zarco’s victory in the Grand Prix of Japan. Zarco was the first Rookies Cup champion in 2007. More than 50 TV stations around the world carried the 2011 Rookies Cup. Invited applicants * Matthew Barton, Australia * Matthew Davies, Australia * Remy Gardner, Australia * Olly Simpson, Australia * Corey Turner, Australia * Loris Cresson, Belgium * Livio Loi, Belgium * Michel Velludo, Brazil * Charly Vu, Canada * Karel Hanika, Czech Republic * Emil Sachmann, Denmark * Eemeli Lahti, Finland * Niki Tuuli, Finland * Robin Anne, France * Enzo Boulom, France * Hugo Casadesus, France * Renald Castillon Gioanni, France * Jules Danilo, France * Simon Danilo, France * Thibaut Gourin, France * Julian Loison, France * Corentin Perolari, France * Guillaume Raymond, France * Johan Rousseau, France * Jean-Luca Amato, Germany * Christoph Beinlich, Germany * Jonas Geitner, Germany * Michael Gerstacker, Germany * Klaus Heidel, Germany * Maximilian Kappler, Germany * Alexander Knaf, Germany * Nicolai Kraft, Germany * Max Maurischat, Germany * Aris Michail, Germany * Maurice Ullrich, Germany * Richard Bodis, Hungary * Eko Prasetianto, Indonesia * Imanuel Pratna, Indonesia * Andrea Caravella, Italy * Nicolò Castellini, Italy * Bryan D’Onofrio, Italy * Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Italy * Alessandro Delbianco, Italy * Federico Fuligni, Italy * Simone Gironi, Italy * Christopher Gobbi, Italy * Stefano Manzi, Italy * Alessandro Nocco, Italy * Filippo Scalbi, Italy * Elia Veronesi, Italy * Watanabe Yui, Japan * Richie Escalante, Mexico * Robert Schotman, Netherlands * Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands * Marcel ter Braake, Netherlands * Jake Lewis, New Zealand * Torgeir Horne, Norway * Stinius Viking Odegard, Norway * David Ferreira, Portugal * Darryn Binder, South Africa * Themba Khumalo, South Africa * Jordan Weaving, South Africa * Michael White, South Africa * Eduardo Alayón Reverón, Spain * Albert Arenas, Spain * Bernat Crespí, Jiménez Spain * Illan Fernandez, Spain * Héctor Garzó Vicent, Spain * María Herrera Muñoz, Spain * Jorge Martín Almoguera, Spain * Joan Mir Perello, Spain * Miquel Pons Payeras, Spain * Marcos Ramirez Fernandez, Spain * Daniel Saez Gutierrez, Spain * David Sanchis, Spain * Alex Sirerol Mayor, Spain * Diego Perez Zuasti, Spain * Linus Harrysson, Sweden * Jesper Pellijeff, Sweden * Sébastien Fraga, Switzerland * Stéphane Frossard, Switzerland * Adrien Pittet, Switzerland * Max Alexander, United Kingdom * Jake Bayford, United Kingdom * Oliver Brocklesby, United Kingdom * Asher Durham, United Kingdom * Oliver Fitzpatrick, United Kingdom * Charlie Foster, United Kingdom * Joe Francis, United Kingdom * Adam Gidley, United Kingdom * Harry Hartley, United Kingdom * Luke Hedger, United Kingdom * Tarran Mackenzie, United Kingdom * Jake Mason, United Kingdom * Adam McLean, United Kingdom * Bradley Ray, United Kingdom * George Stanley, United Kingdom * Oliver Taylor, United Kingdom * Ryan Watson, United Kingdom * Anthony Alonso, USA * Mario Alvarez II, USA * Alex Caldwell Wisdom, USA * Eziah Davis, USA * Max Flinders, USA * Alexander Guerrierie, USA * Ian Tetrick, USA * Xavier Zayat, USA