Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1529190
Kenny Roberts Starts MotoAmerica Talent Cup Team M otoAmerica announced that three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts will make a return to American road racing as a team owner in the 2025 Parts Unlimited Talent Cup, a cham - pionship designed to prepare young North American racers who have the desire and talent to compete on the world stage of MotoGP. Roberts, who was influen - tial as a team owner in getting American road racers Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, John Kocinski and Kenny Roberts Jr. to become World Champions, is hopeful of giving young racers the opportunity to join those legends as Grand Prix racers via MotoAmerica's new Talent Cup program. Partnering with Fastrack Rac - ing's Arney Wick, Roberts will initially start the series with one rider: three-time American Flat Track (AFT) Singles Champion Kody Kopp. Kopp will make his road racing debut in the opening round of the Talent Cup at the MotoGP event at Circuit of The Americas, March 28-30, on the Kramer APX-350 MA. The Kramer APX-350 MA motorcycle has been specifically designed and engineered for the MotoAmerica Talent Cup. It is designed to support a pipeline from the U.S. circuits directly into the European systems that ultimately feed MotoGP teams. "This is the first time I can see an avenue where we can get young Americans to MotoGP," Roberts said. "Production bike racing has never done it for me, as it's really complicated be - cause you must be on the right bike, etc. The Talent Cup will give us the opportunity to really see the talent of the rider. I still think dirt tracking is the first step, and the Talent Cup gives us a chance to put a young dirt tracker on the equipment that's the same as everyone else's and that hasn't been the case until now. This is the first step back into the world arena, and I'd like to hear the American National Anthem on the rostrum before I slip off the groove." "I'm extremely excited to begin the next chapter of my career, and I'm honored to be a part of a team with Kenny Roberts," Kopp said. "I'm excited to get to work, and I can't wait to ride the bike." "Obviously, having Kenny as a team owner in MotoAmerica is a win for everybody," said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. "His presence in the paddock will create interest in the Talent Cup both here and internationally. Kenny and his team are also bringing in Kody Kopp, a flat track champion, and it will be interesting to watch his development under Kenny's guidance. Kody couldn't ask for a better person to learn from, as Kenny has truly done it all—as both a racer and a team owner." The team says it will have more information on team part - ners and structure in the near future. CN WIND IN THE P24 Kenny Roberts (pictured) will field a Talent Cup Team in MotoAmerica in 2025. His first signee is three-time AFT Singles Champion Kody Kopp.