Valentino Rossi Record In Reach For Columbia’s First-Ever World Champion

David Alonso became the first-ever Columbian motorcycle world champion on Sunday in Japan, as he clinched the Moto3 world championship with his tenth win of the season.

Alonso, who is a protege of eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, has been nothing short of sensational in 2024 and thoroughly dominated the class which has tended to be very difficult for previous Moto3 champions to do.

Speaking after winning the title, Alonso said: “I wanted to be champion by winning the race, I was sure about that. I could not imagine my perfect dream in any other way than winning.

“I have crossed the finish line and I could not believe it. I thought that on the last lap I had exceeded the track limits and I did not want to celebrate it before time. When they started congratulating me, I asked them if I was really the champion. 

“I could not believe it. I have been very calm all weekend, but yesterday afternoon I started to have some doubts. I want to thank my team, CFMoto, my sponsors and all the people who have helped me get here, because without them I would not have been able to fulfil my dream.”

Alonso becoming world champion is a historic feat as he’s the first Colombian to do so, but another record beckons for the impressive 18-year-old. Alonso could match or even break Valentino Rossi’s 27-year record of most wins in the class in a single season.

Rossi won 11 times and Alonso is already on ten victories with four rounds left. Alonso is also the first champion of the Pirelli era after the Italian company became the official tyre supplier for Moto3 and Moto2 at the start of 2024.

Australia is up next before the 2024 campaign heads to Thailand, Malaysia and Spain (Valencia) for the season finale.

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