Intact Juniors attacks with powerful rider line-up in Moto3 JuniorGP

In addition to Jakob Rosenthaler and Leo Rammerstorfer, LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team welcomes Rico Salmela from Finnland to its Moto3 team in FIM JuniorGP World Championship.

Last year, 15-year-old Rico Salmela gained racing experience at international level in European Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup where he finished both series in fourth place overall. With strong performances and an aggressive riding style, he has aroused great interest. The junior department of the renowned racing squad from Memmingen can now announce the signing of the promising talent from the far north. Salmela is an important new addition to LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team, which will compete for the first time with three riders in the most important category of what is probably the most important junior series in the world.

Salmela's team mates in the team’s Moto3 garage already have gained more experience in the highly competitive young talents championship as 2024 marks the third season for 17-year-old Jakob Rosenthaler from Linz in Intact GP colours, while slightly older Leo Rammerstorfer, 19, also from Linz, made a first-class switch to a thoroughbred Moto3 race bike last year. Both have impressed with a steadily rising form curve and occasional highlights, securing a ride for the new season.

The 2024 season opener of FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship will take place in mid-April at the Misano circuit in Italy. The race calendar once again includes seven events. LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team will start its on-track preparations with a first test scheduled in March.

Dirk REISSMANN
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team

"We are very pleased that we are increasing the number of riders in Moto3 what our most important category in this project is. For the first time, we will race with three riders in Moto3 class. We would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome Rico Salmela, who joins Jakob Rosenthaler and Leo Rammerstorfer. Rico has been on our radar at every race over the past years and we have been keeping a close eye on his performances. He shows great talent, and we are very happy to have him in our care for the future. I also think it is great that Jakob and Leo are getting the chance to continue to prove themselves and develop in this hard-fought class."

"Both Jakob, who we have worked hard with over the last two years already, and Leo have performed well and made great progress last year either. That is why I think it is good for both of them to continue in a familiar environment. We have built up a great structure and a great team. Jakob can definitely be described as a kind of «Leader» and with Leo and Rico, we have two ambitious juniors waiting in the wings to follow. However, as a newcomer to this class, 2024 will be something of a learning year for Rico. But we are looking forward to using our experience to help him where we can. At the moment, we have our hands full with preparations so that we can go to the first test in March and then make a good start to the championship in Misano at the end of April."

Aki AJO
Rider manager Rico Salmela

"We are very happy to have Rico in a very professional team structure to take his first steps in Moto3 Junior World Championship. Even though Rico already has a long international experience in other categories, it is very important to have a strong and experienced team behind him for this new challenge. We are convinced that Rico will benefit from the experience of the Intact Junior Team and will be carefully built up."

Rico SALMELA
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team (Moto3, Husqvarna)

"I am over the moon that I can now announce that I am part of the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team. I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to join one of the best teams in the paddock. I cannot wait to start the season with testing and the first races to see the whole team for the first time and get to know everyone. I am really happy to be part of this great racing family. A big thank you to everyone who believe in me and gave me this opportunity. 2024 is my first year in the Moto3 class, but I am sure that we will get to the top step by step."

Jakob ROSENTHALER
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team (Moto3, Husqvarna)

"Before talking about my sporting goals for 2024, I would like to thank the Intact team for giving me a third season in the highly competitive Moto3 Junior World Championship so that I can further improve in my career. So, many thanks to Jürgen Lingg, Stefan Keckeisen, Wolfgang Kuhn and Dirk Reissmann. Not only the latter is a great support for us riders, and this not only during the race weekends. In my third year with them, I want to finish in the top five in every race and consistently fighting for podium finishes. During the winter months, I prepare myself as well as possible for the new season. It feels like I have never been on a motorcycle as much as this winter. And the preparation is far from over. I head back home next week, where I will be concentrating on school and physical training. But in a few weeks' time, during next holidays, I will be back in Spain for my next stay continuing working with bikes. I am also really looking forward to the first tests with the team and the start of the championship in April."

Leo RAMMERSTORFER
LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team (Moto3, Husqvarna)

"First of all, I would like to thank the Intact team again for everything they did for me last year. 2023 was a very challenging year as I was a rookie in both the Red Bull Rookies Cup and Moto3 Junior World Championship. Thanks to the help and support of the team, it was an incredibly educational year. The last few races were really good, where I was able to put a lot of impressions and experience into practice. The aim is of course to build on that this year and hopefully achieve better results. But also, to justify the trust placed in me. A big thank you to everyone for allowing me to work with this very professional team again this year. My goal for the season is to be consistently in the top ten. Last year I just missed out that a few times. But I think if I can make good use of all the experience I gained in my rookie year, I am very confident that I can achieve that."

"In addition to this main goal, there are other smaller goals, such as improving my performances more and more with each race weekend and making constant progress because my ultimate goal is to make the step into Moto3 World Championship, and I want to achieve that as soon as possible. Of course, it will depend a lot on how well I do. I will do my best and prepare as well as I can for the season and never let up during the season, I will stick to my training plan. During the winter months, I mainly work on improving my physical and mental condition. I am very happy that I have been given a second chance in Junior World Championship with Intact GP. So, thanks again to the team’s management and I am looking forward to the season. I already know a bit about what to expect, which of course makes things a bit more predictable."