Dorna Sports has created a new project called "MotoGP Academy" to train riders from different nationalities so that they can participate in MotoGP in the near future.

From a selection process carried out among young riders, six of them will take part of a complete programme directed by Alberto Puig, whose experience has enabled the development of talented riders such as Pedrosa, Elías, Stoner, Davies and Simón.

The six selected riders for the 2005 course are:
- Joshua Sommer, age 15, Germany, Red Bull Rookies to MotoGP Champion
- Meik Minnerop, age 15, Germany, 4th in the 125cc German Championship
- Bradley Smith, age 14, Great Britain, 4th Aprilia Superteen
- Daniel Webb, age 13, Great Britain, 2nd Aprilia Superteen
- Ion Garrido, age 16, Spain, Movistar Junior Cup Champion
- Efrén Vázquez, age 18, Spain, Movistar Junior Cup.

The two Spanish riders will take part in the MotoGP Academy as a continuation of their participation in the Movistar Junior Cup, and will race under Movistar colours.

There are two separate work areas that the riders will put into practice both in their home countries and in Spain: psychophysical and sports. The psychophysical development will be carried out by specialists who have planned a work routine, with a daily preparation programme. During the stages in Spain, the riders will live in the Residencia Blume in Barcelona, for top-level sportsmen. This residence is equipped with outstanding facilities and has a highly experienced staff of doctors and sports physiotherapists.

The sports preparation will consist of winter motocross and supermotard training in different tracks. In addition, the riders will participate in the 2005 Spanish Championship (CEV) in the 125cc category with Honda RS, and will have the chance to participate as wildcards in some of the races of the World Championship.

A technical structure has been created with professionals such as Alex Batlle - who worked with Crivillé, Barros and Capirossi - and Juan Martínez - who collaborated along Doohan and Rossi as a suspension engineer and is currently Sete Gibernau's crew chief in the World Championship. Former rider Raúl Jara will be in charge of the sports coordination.

2. First stage.
From Monday March 7th until Sunday 13th, the MotoGP Academy riders did their first pre-season stage in Spain. Under the supervision of Raúl Jara, they underwent intense 12-hour work sessions, with all sorts of exercises, including continuous races, cycling, body building, and supermotard. There were 3 supermotard testing sessions to acquire the work dynamics with the mechanics and the training methodology. As for the physical work, there was a collective programme which was adapted to the characteristics of each pupil, since there are still differences between their levels. The medical staff performed a thorough examination of each pupil’s physical state, providing vitamin supplements to any rider they considered required them. The overall evaluation was very positive, with a perfect atmosphere, great companionship and awareness of the high level of demand.

3. Second stage.
The second stage in Barcelona took place between March 28th and April 5th. It included testing sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya with the Honda 125 RS they will compete with in the CEV, but with standard settings, since the kits had not been yet provided by HRC. This was not a problem because the aim was to have riders adapt the bikes to their constitution, to study their riding technique and to start up the technical structure.

The results were uneven, with excellent performances by Efrén Vázquez (in his first contact with a 125cc GP bike), Bradley Smith and Danny Webb, who was injured due to a crash in Brands Hatch.

The times obtained by the riders were the following:

1st day laps 2nd day laps
Efrén 1'59''29 75 v 1'57''43 70 v
Ion 2'00''56 57 v 1'58''51 69 v
Bradley 2'02''53 68 v 1'58''75 78 v
Meik 2'01''25 80 v 1'58''89 80 v
Joshua 2'04''72 19 v 1'58''95 78 v
Danny 2'03''57 22 v 1'59''31 68 v

The medical staff in charge of the monitoring of the riders took blood samples and performed lactate tests to analyse the evolution of the physical plan. The day off was spent watching the images recorded by a Dorna cameraman and to study the technical errors. The rest of the days were dedicated to physical training, with one day of Supermotard, one long cycling outing and intense work out sessions at the gym and at the beach.

4. First competitions.
The British riders have started the season in their country, something that contributes positively to this project, since they are the least experienced. The effort is starting to pay off. B.Smith participated in the first event of the MRO (Second level Championship in England), with a 1st and 3rd position in Brands Hatch. One week later, he qualified 5th in the first BSB race at the same track. D.Webb crashed during the BSB qualifying while he was seventh in his group.

5. Details of the organization.
An insurance policy has been set with the RFME to cover the injuries of the British and German riders at the MotoGP Academy during the private tests, an aspect that remained uncovered by their respective licenses.