Opinion: Who will be the key contenders in Moto3 in 2024

With the 2024 Moto3 season quickly approaching, it looks to be another season of close racing and packed full of talented riders. But who are the riders to watch this season who are likely to impress?

Daniel Holgado

Daniel Holgado had a great season in Moto3, finishing in fifth position in the standings in 2023. It was Holgado’s second full season in the Moto3 class, winning his first race at the opening round in 2023.

After the Austrian round at the Red Bull Ring, Holgado was leading the Moto3 World Championship by 26 points. This was the peak of his season until a back-to-back no-points finish in Catalunya and Misano.

Holgado will be aiming for glory this year, showing that he is a realistic title contender this year. He also remains with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team, with Jacob Roulstone as his teammate in 2024.

Collin Veijer

Collin Veijer joined Moto3 at the beginning of the 2023 season after stepping up from JuniorGP. Since then, he has consistently broken records and battled for race wins for the Husqvarna team.

In 2024, Veijer will continue with the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team, with Tatsuki Suzuki joining him as his new teammate. The Dutchman could be a Championship contender if he can find form at the beginning of the season.

In 2023, Veijer finished seventh in the Moto3 Championship, beating more experienced riders such as Diogo Moreira and Kaito Toba. His breakthrough race came in Malaysia after he won his first Grand Prix, taking the victory from his teammate.

Angel Piqueras

Angel Piqueras may be an unknown name to some, but he exploded the world of junior series in 2023. Piqueras was born In Requena, Spain and is just 17 years old. He is one of the most highly anticipated rookies this year.

He will ride for Leopard Racing this year, riding the Honda with the highly successful and experienced team. Piqueras is an experienced Honda rider, racing the Japanese machines in JuniorGP.

In his 2023 season in JuniorGP, Angel Piqueras dominated –  winning four races and claiming nine podiums. He also won the Championship by 82 points while he raced back-to-back in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. It was much the same in Red Bull Rookies, with Piqueras winning the title by 115 points.

David Alonso

David Alonso took the Grand Prix paddock by storm in his rookie season, winning his first race at Silverstone after starting at the back of the grid. Alonso then went on to win a further three races in 2023 and claimed eight podiums. He also became the first-ever Columbian rider to win a Grand Prix.

In 2024, fans have put Alonso as a title favourite with a wise head on young shoulders. He will also continue with the GasGas Aspar Team next season, continuing his relationship with the brand, which began in 2021.

Ivan Ortola

Ivan Ortola is preparing for his third season in the Grand Prix paddock after impressing in 2023. The Spanish rider won his first Grand Prix at COTA in 2023 after fighting through the pack – recovering from an opening lap mistake.

Towards the end of the season, Ortola’s pace did not show in his results, but he ended the year with a third-place finish in Valencia. With the confidence from the win and a new contract for next year.

He will move to the MT Helmets – MSi team next year, riding the KTM RC250GP, which he has ridden for the last two years. His teammate for next year will be Ryusei Yamanaka, in a brand-new line-up for the team.

Let us know who you think could be a title contender this year as we prepare for another highly anticipated season. The Championship will begin in Qatar on March 8-10.

For an in-depth look at the 2023 Moto3 season:

Image credit: motogp.com