Hanika to interview and training in Spain for Moto3™ debut

Karel Hanika has chosen to enjoy the mild winter climate of Spain for his training regime this off-season, before making a Moto3™ World Championship debut as the 2013 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner.

The Czech rider demonstrated remarkable speed and consistency in last year’s Rookies Cup, winning half of the 14 races and being classified second in every other race he finished, ending the campaign a convincing 72 points ahead of the nearest competition. He will turn 18 just over a week before the season-opening Grand Prix in Qatar, as he joins the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad.

“I will prepare well, I hope,” Hanika begins. “Hopefully we will get some good results and I will do everything I can to make sure we do. During the winter it is pretty snowy and cold in the Czech Republic, so that is why I am here (in Spain). I train with my friend on motorbikes and mountain bikes, doing everything can that help me for next season.

“Many races were good for me (last year). I got many victories and podiums. I really enjoyed every race; sometimes my bike didn’t finish or I crashed, but it is part of racing and I was finally able to win, so it was perfect.”

In winning last year’s Rookies Cup – with the series having existed since 2007 - Hanika joined a list including the names of fellow current World Championship riders Johann Zarco, Jakub Kornfeil, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Florian Alt. However, Hanika’s margin of victory was the greatest to date.