"Hi, my name is Rossi". An interview with young rising star Rossi Moor

The CIV Junior Championship is a very important source of rising stars for Italy, but lately this series has welcomed also several riders from other countries. One of them is 11-year-old Rossi Moor, Hungarian rider born and raised in the USA.

Three countries, one rider

Born in 2007 in Portland, Rossi Moor spends his life in Hungary (where his father’s parents live) and in the USA and he’s been racing in Italy since 2018. This year, he competes in the Ohvale GP-0 190 category with Bester Capital Dubai Junior Team, a “subsidiary” of the squad lining up Andrea Migno and Jaume Masiá in Moto3 World Championship.

Rossi Moor has already achieved a lot so far and among those who strongly believe in him there’s Stefano Favaro, a very experienced manager and talent scout. In the past, Favaro launched 2007 125cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi, twice Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco and current World Supersport rider Péter Sebestyén (the protagonist of the very first article of this blog).

Bester Capital Dubai Junior Team for 2019 Italian CIV Junior Ohvale GP-0 190. Stefano Favaro is in the middle, while Rossi Moor is the rider on the right. Rider on the left side: Kevin Farkas.

In the wait for what the future brings, Palmen in Motorradsport has interviewed Rossi Moor to know him, his career and why he’s got such a “heavy” name.

Interview

Rossi, can you summarize what you have achieved so far?

I have been racing in America since when I was 5 years old. I raced with many different organizations and I won most of the races I entered. In the UMRA (United Mini Road Racing Association), I won 65 GP Championship and 85GP/150GP Championship in 2017. In that same year, I entered four 24-hour endurance races and won 3 of them. In 2018, I won the first race of the Italian CNV Selettiva Centro Championship and I raced in the Ohvale GP-0 160 category inside CIV Junior. I was on the podium four times out of 5 rounds and I finished the championship in 4th place in my first year. I also took 3rd place overall in the European Championship, by one point behind second place. This year I’ve stepped up to Ohvale GP-0 190 category and on 14th April I was second in the first round of the season, held at Cervesina.

How important is Stefano Favaro for your career?

He’s followed me since when I was 9 years old. In the past he discovered and launched riders like Gabor Talmacsi, Johann Zarco and Péter Sebestyén and it’s great to have such an important and experienced manager.

What is your goal for this season in CIV Junior?

My main goal is to take a step forward from last year, when I was 4th in the CIV Ohvale GP-0 160 category.

This year you’ve joined Bester Capital Dubai, a team that participates in Moto3 World Championship and boasts a long, successful history (in Moto3 this is the current name of Fiorenzo Caponera’s WorldWideRace Team, ed). How does it feel?

It’s a great feeling to be a part of such an incredible team, who is a front runner in the Moto3 World Championship and also in the European Talent Cup (championship for riders from 13 to 17 years of age, which is part of FIM CEV Repsol, ed). This team runs like a family, which is amazing to me. It gives me a great feeling to have a team principal like José Manuel Ruiz Gómez, who is an incredible person and has great knowledge.

Have you had the chance to meet Andrea Migno and Jaume Masiá, Bester Capital Dubai Team riders in Moto3 World Championship?

Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to meet Jaume or Andrea yet. I hope I’ll meet them in the near future.

What’s your goal for the future?

I’ve always dreamed to become a World Champion in the premier class, but I also understand that the road is very complex and hard. I will do my best to succeed.

Have you ever had the chance to train with Gabor Talmacsi and Péter Sebestyén? If you have, what advice have they given to you for your career?

Yes, I did have the chance to talk to Gabor and Peter. Gabor said: “Just keep your head up and follow your dreams”. Péter also is a very good friend and a coach to me. He said that I have to be able to adapt myself and my riding style to many different bikes. I train with Peter and he always gives me great training advices.

About your life outside racing, how do you spend your free time?

In my free time I like to practice martial arts and ride my roller-scooter. I also like to ride my bicycle and play racing video games.

Are you superstitious? Do you follow any ritual when you’re at races?

I’m not really a superstitious person, I’m rather very realistic about life. I do have a ritual: at every race, when I’m sitting on my bike on the grid, I pray.

In the end, a question about your first name: were you named after Valentino Rossi?

Yes, the name was given to me definitely after Valentino Rossi, as he was and still is my “dad” and my favorite racer. Honestly, sometimes, I feel his spirit inside me when I’m racing.

Thank you for the interview.

Thank you so much, it was a honor.