Gaviota GASGAS Aspar rider is the second-best rookie of the Moto3 era with four wins and six podiums, numbers only achieved by Pedro Acosta in 2021 

Gaviota GASGAS Aspar rider David Alonso is the 2023 rookie of the year in Moto3 after taking victory in the Thai Grand Prix, what gives him an advantage of 94 points over José Antonio Rueda, his main rival for the title. Alonso has achieved the title with three races to go and with enviable numbers that place him as the second-best rookie of the Moto3 era: he has, so far, four victories and six podiums in his debut in the category as a permanent rider. Only Pedro Acosta, in 2021, took more wins (six) and more podiums (eight) than Alonso.

He has combined great performances, such as the comeback from the back of the grid at Silverstone to take victory, with breathtaking wins in the final corners, like he did in San Marino. He has impressed on unknown tracks, as he did at the Indonesian Grand Prix, where he finished 107 thousandths off victory. He has set fastest laps, like the one in Austria, in the middle of a comeback to reach the lead of the race, and front rows like the Indonesian one, what was his first time among the best on the World Championship grid. And now, without waiting for the chequered flag in Valencia, he has achieved the main goal of this season, the rookie of the year title.

Alonso thus adds his name to a group of riders that includes a MotoGP world champion (Joan Mir, the only rookie along with Alonso and Acosta to win at least one race), a Moto2 champion (Enea Bastianini) and a Moto3 champion (Pedro Acosta), as well as current rivals who are fighting for the crown in the small category, like Jaume Masià and Ayumu Sasaki.   

Moto3 Rookie of the Year list:

2012: Álex Rins (1 podium).

2013: Philipp Öttl

2014: Enea Bastianini (3 podiums)

2015: Jorge Navarro (4 podiums)

2016: Joan Mir (1 win, 3 podiums)

2017: Ayumu Sasaki

2018: Jaume Masiá

2019: Celestino Vietti (3 podiums)

2020: Jeremy Alcoba (1 podium)

2021: Pedro Acosta (CHAMPION, 6 wins, 8 podiums)

2022: Diogo Moreira

2023: David Alonso (4 wins, 6 podiums)