Scott Redding Profile

Redding’s Moto2 challenge

Following national success in both Britain and Spain, Scott stepped up to the world stage at the young age of 13. He’s still one of the younger participants in the Moto2 World Championship this season.

The Moto2 competitor started racing in the British Minimoto Championship at just eight years old and collected multiple championship victories between 2001 and 2003 before switching to the Metrakit MiniGP. He stayed in the series in 2004 and claimed the title in his first full MiniGP season. The success was swiftly replicated the following year on his debut in the Spanish Calypso Cup 80cc series, where he won all six races.

MotoGP Academy, Spain

Scott’s Spanish victories led to one of the biggest opportunities in his career to date when he was picked up by the Red Bull MotoGP Academy project in 2006, to race in the CEV Buckler 125GP series in Spain. He finished his debut season in the series known as the ‘Cradle of Champions’ in ninth overall, attracting the interest of BQR BlusensAprilia, who signed Redding for the following three seasons. After his first season with the team, Redding was rewarded for winning the last three races of 2007, with the opportunity to ply his trade in the World Championship in 2008.

Donington GP victory

It was an opportunity he grabbed with both hands and, in his trademark style of full gas, Redding stormed to his first ever GP victory in front of a delighted home crowd at Donington Park, adding his name to the record books in the process. Aged just 15 years and 170 days, Redding took the record of youngest rider of all-time to win a Grand Prix race from Marco Melandri who had held it since winning at Assen in 1998. The victory also made him the first British rider to win a race in the World 125GP class since Chas Mortimer at the Spanish GP at Jarama in 1973, and the first British rider to win a GP in any class since Jeremy McWilliams won the 250cc race at Assen in 2001. It’s a record that will remain in the history books now that the class has been replaced with the new Moto3 championship.

Rookie of the year

Having already established himself as a star of the future, Scott was named 2008 125cc Rookie of the Year, finishing 11th overall and earning himself a factory bike for 2009. Despite the upgraded machinery, the teenager’s second season with BlusensAprilia in the World 125GP Championship was more difficult.

2010 saw another step up for Scott with a move into Moto2 with the Marc VDS team. It was a challenging debut season and one marred by tragedy following Scott’s unavoidable involvement in a racing incident that claimed the life of Japan’s Shoya Tomizawa at Misano. Despite the difficulties, which could have led to a crisis in confidence for a lesser rider, Redding made a remarkable comeback and finished the year 8th overall with two admirable podiums under his belt.

Moto2 set-up issues

Universal praise for the teenager’s strength of character and ability to adapt quickly to a new race series followed from fans and pundits. But, it was a debut season that was difficult to follow, with Scott experiencing a tough 2011 that saw him struggling with set-up and grip, leading to inconsistent performances on track. However, with a switch to a Kalex chassis for 2012, the MarcVDS team has high hoped for Redding for 2012.

Career History