It is fair to say that Ethan Sparks had a rather busy, challenging, exciting and ultimately impressive 2026 motorbike racing season.

Indeed, Ethan has spent the season competing in two prestigious championships, each consisting of seven rounds. Which ultimately, led to a year of learning, determination, personal growth and some fantastic achievements.

The season began back in April with the Red Bull Rookies test in Jerez, where one of Ethan’s childhood dreams finally became a reality. For the first time, he had the opportunity to throw his leg over a Red Bull KTM race bike and take his first steps into the world of MotoGP.

The KTM was vastly different from anything Ethan had ridden before, requiring him to adapt his riding style and learn an entirely new bike. It took time, patience and determination, but he embraced the challenge and loved every minute of it. Before long, he was finding his feet and becoming increasingly comfortable in the highly competitive, high-pressure environment of the MotoGP paddock.

Ethan finished his debut season with 62 championship points and just one DNF across 14 races, demonstrating impressive consistency while continuing to develop his skills and confidence.

His strongest performances came towards the end of the season, when everything began to fall into place. With growing confidence in the bike and invaluable coaching and encouragement from the Red Bull Rookies team, Ethan began to realise that he had the pace to run with the front group.

The next step was learning to be more aggressive, take calculated risks and seize opportunities, even when there was no guarantee they would pay off. It was a valuable lesson in racing, and one that soon delivered results.

At Misano, Ethan secured two fantastic top ten finishes, taking P7 in Race 1 and an impressive P5 in Race 2.

He then carried that momentum into the final round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where he produced one of his standout performances of the season, finishing an outstanding P4, ahead of both championship title contenders.

These results were a testament to just how far Ethan had progressed throughout his rookie year. His hard work, determination and impressive development were rewarded with an invitation to return for a second season in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2027!

Alongside his Red Bull Rookies commitments, Ethan also competed in the Moto4 European Cup as part of the FIM Moto Junior World Championship, riding for the GRYD MLav Junior Team.

This proved to be arguably the toughest and most demanding of his two championships. The Moto4 European Cup is fiercely competitive, with up to 64 talented young riders battling for limited places on the race grid each weekend. In a championship where simply qualifying can be an achievement in itself, every session counts.

Despite the intense competition, Ethan successfully qualified for every race throughout the season, showing consistency, resilience and determination.

It wasn’t always plain sailing. Mechanical issues and incidents caused by other riders resulted in some frustrating and unfortunate races, often through no fault of his own. However, Ethan continued to push forward, gaining valuable experience and never losing sight of his goals.

He finished the championship with 38 points, securing 15th place in the overall standings.

And, as with the Red Bull Rookies Cup, he saved one of his very best performances until the end!

At the final round in Misano last weekend, Ethan delivered a sensational ride, fighting his way through the field from 15th on the grid to finish P2 and claim a fantastic podium!

In an incredibly close finish, just 0.009 seconds separated Ethan from the rider in third place, highlighting the intensity of the racing and the determination required to secure that result.

It was a brilliant way to end a challenging championship and a well-deserved reward for the hard work, perseverance and commitment shown by Ethan and the team throughout the season.

With his place in the 2027 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup already secured, Ethan is excited to build on everything he has learned during his debut season and return stronger, more confident and ready to fight further up the field.

Plans for his 2027 campaign in the FIM Moto Junior World Championship are yet to be confirmed, but we look forward to sharing further news as soon as everything is finalised.

Away from the racetrack, it’s also important to recognise that Ethan is balancing the demands of competing at an international level with his GCSE examination year at Oakwood Park Grammar School.

Managing schoolwork, revision, international travel and the physical and mental demands of racing is no small challenge, particularly at his age.

Ethan would like to express his sincere thanks to Oakwood Park Grammar School for its continued support, flexibility and understanding, which have been invaluable in helping him pursue his racing ambitions while remaining committed to his education.