Angel Piqueras is the 2023 Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup Champion, winning the title thanks to an Assen double. Having already secured Race 1 victory, the Spaniard stole a second win of the weekend from arch-rival Maximo Quiles on the brakes into the final chicane, handing Piqueras his seventh win of the season, his second of the weekend and enough points to secure the Rookies Cup title.
Again, the 16-year-old Spaniard had to fight for victory from the first corner to the last. Quiles, the 15-year-old Spaniard was determined to make amends for his Saturday fall and did much of the leading, often swapping places with fellow countryman Álvaro Carpe, who came into the race closest to Piqueras on points. 16-year-old Carpe had the front for most of the second half of the race but, so intense was the lead battle, he crossed the line in P6. It was Australian 18-year-old Jacob Roulstone who joined Piqueras and Quiles on the podium, getting the better of Casey O'Gorman and Alberto Ferrandez on the last lap.
Piqueras: "Coming into the chicane on the last lap I thought that Carpe was behind me and I knew that I needed to finish in front of him to take the Cup. So I went as late as possible and passed Quiles. Then I caught neutral in the middle of the corner, and I was in trouble, I got a gear and got the win but it nearly didn't happen.
"I didn't think the year would be like this when I injured myself in the off-season. I had to work very hard to be fit. I knew I could race for the win after last year but I didn't know it would be possible to win so many races."