#34 Zen
Mitani
Japan
·
Red Bull Rookies Cup
Date of birth | 27 March 2007 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Ibaraki, Japan |
Age | 19 |
Nationality | Japan |
Career start | 2014 |
Discipline | Rookies Cup |
01
About Me
"When I was three years old, my father, who loved racing, took me to see the MotoGP at Twin Ring Motegi. It was my first time watching a race and I felt I had never experienced a more moving experience in my life. During that time, I had the opportunity to ride a motorbike and immediately became hooked. My mother is the one who started my racing career. When I said I wanted a bike, she was a little naive but agreed."
"My father is a novice when it comes to racing, but he has used all his holidays to support me. My father is an accountant and my mother a dental hygienist. I have a young sister, she is 6 years younger than me. At school I enjoyed P.E Even when I am not riding I like to Imagine myself riding a bike. I think about it all the time and I want to become a World Champion. My racing heroes are Marc 93, Andrea 04, Ai 79, Valentino 46 and Nobuatsu 9."
"In 2024 I learnt the importance of not crashing and getting points. And the importance of the difference one win can make. My best race to date was in Sepang, the final race of 2024. I felt like I was able to bring out everything I had accumulated up to that point in the race. Of course, winning is the most important thing, but I also feel satisfaction in giving my best in every session with my team. It's also great to see the smiles of the team staff. My biggest mistake was during last year's Thai GP, I crashed on a high-speed corner and completely destroyed my bike. In a one-make race, that was a big loss."
Competing in both the Rookies Cup and Junior GP in 2025, I want to grow in every race and make this the best year ever.
02
2024 Season
Zen Mitani's 2024 campaign was a breakout year defined by his success in the Asian series. He achieved the championship title in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (ATC), showcasing exceptional consistency and speed against the region's best young talent. This title victory successfully concluded his run in the series, directly leading to his nomination and entry into the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for the 2025 season.
03
2025 Season
The 2025 season marked Zen Mitani's debut in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The Japanese rider finished his rookie campaign a strong 7th overall in the championship standings. His season was defined by two spectacular podium finishes, including a brilliant 2nd place at the Sachsenring, where he climbed from 16th on the grid. Alongside his Rookies Cup commitment, Mitani also gained valuable experience competing in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship. This combined effort led directly to his promotion to the Moto3 World Championship for the 2026 season with the Honda Team Asia.
- 2025
- 4th Red Bull Rookies Cup Misano - Race 2Italy
- 3rd Red Bull Rookies Cup Misano - Race 1Italy
- 9th Red Bull Rookies Cup Spielberg - Race 2Austria
- 2nd Red Bull Rookies Cup Sachsenring - Race 2Germany
- 5th Red Bull Rookies Cup Sachsenring - Race 1Germany
- 8th Red Bull Rookies Cup Mugello - Race 1Italy
- 7th Red Bull Rookies Cup Aragón - Race 1Spain
- 7th Red Bull Rookies Cup Jerez - Race 1Spain
- 2024
- 1st Asia Talent Cup (NSF250R)Asia7 x 1st, 3 x 2nd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th
- 2023
- 5th Asia Talent CupAsia
- 2022
- 10th All Japan Road Race Championship (NSF250R)Japan
- 2021
- 2nd Tsukuba Road Race Series (NSF250R)Japan
- 2020
- MFJ Roadrace academy (CBR250R)Japan
- 2019
- MFJ Roadrace academy (CBR250R)Japan
- 2018
- 1st Riding Sport Cup / HRC trophy Jr (NSF100)Japan
- 2017
- 3rd Riding Sport Cup / HRC trophy Jr (NSF100)Japan
- 2016
- 5th Riding Sport Cup / HRC trophy Jr (NSF100)Japan
- 2015
- 1st Battax Aoki Nobuatsu Cup / kids class (DR-Z50)Japan
- 1st Riding Sport Cup / Kids class (DR-Z50)Japan