2023 Redbull Rookies Invitation
Red Bull Rookies has been a dream of mine ever since I met Sean Dylan Kelly back in 2015. When I figured out how prestigious this cup was, I wanted to be in it more than anything else in my life. Every year I watch a new champion come from rookies cup and automatically be competitive in world championship. This is what motivated me more than anything to be in rookies.
When I found out that I had been selected for rookies tryouts 2023, I was speechless for about 30 minutes. I had just landed back in Florida from the BTC races at Oulton Park. I have been looking at my email every day waiting to find out and there it was. I came out of the airport and gave my pops a big hug and just said WE DID IT. Pops already knew and wanted to surprise me at home with a family unveiling of the news but I knew. We facetimed my mom and just started chanting 40 40 40 40. Then I sat in the truck for the ride home it hit me again. I was trying to speak but I couldn’t, I’ve never felt this kind of butterflies in my stomach before. I had put 8 years worth of work to get selected for the tryouts and here I was, getting ready for the tryouts in 2023.
This year has by far been my best year of racing to date and after my brilliant weekend at Donington, I was more than ready to head into tryouts. This time it was in sunny Spain at Circuito Mike G Guadix, a circuit that is not used very much by riders and more for cars so this was an even playing field for all. But the scenery around this circuit was indescribable. There were homes carved into mountains, massive cliffs, very dry and desert every where but I loved it. Pops liked it as well but more cause the weather was nice lol. Any time I had seen rookie tryout pictures, the thing that stood out to me the most was the big Red Bull blowup in pit lane. When I saw that blow up in person, my eyes got real watery because I had put so much effort and so many sacrifices to get to a rookies selection event.
When we arrived to the circuit Monday afternoon, there was the riders from day 1 riding and it was really cool to get a glimpse of what my day tomorrow would be like. All the bikes were the exact same from the outside looking in but you never know until you’re sat on the bike. I heard a lot of mixed things from many different people about it but I didn’t want to let any of it go to my head. It doesn’t matter what everyone else experienced, only mine. We got signed up later that evening, got a track walk done, and collected my bib which for me was the highlight of the day. Got back to the hotel, watched some clips of the circuit, had a good dinner and I was ready for a good rest and a great day of riding.
Butterflies settled in once I got to the circuit and I was ready to give it my all. All 3 Americans were in the same group which was super cool because we were able to stay together throughout the day. I must say, I’ve never felt a sense of nervousness quite like the one I was feeling getting dressed for session 1 of 2 in my life. I was almost sick in my leathers but I used the techniques Coach Torres and I have been working on all year and it worked like a charm. Now that I was calm I was ready to take on the first session. Overall, it was a positive session, didn’t worry about speed but more about markers and getting a feeling of the bike and track. For session 2 though, it was all about speed. I shut my mind off and just let my body do its thing. I didn’t worry about anything besides going the fastest I can and I dropped 3.5 seconds from my first session time. Now that both sessions were done, it was time for the coaches to make their selection. This feeling before they called out the names was probably just as bad as getting ready for the first session. United States starts with the letter U obviously but this means that my name would be called towards the end but I couldn’t stand the sick feeling. After about 1 minute of suffering, “Julian Correa of the United States”. My name had been called which means I was in for the final day of selections. What a feeling of relief but more importantly, what an accomplishment. My dad and I went into this event without any expectations but wow I couldn’t believe it. Now it was time to do it all again the next day.
On day 3 I wasn’t any where near as nervous as day 2 because of this amazing accomplishment but I wanted more, I want that rookies spot. Today us 3 Americans were split into separate groups but I had my good friend from BTC Harley Mccabe in my group. For the first of 2 sessions I wanted to do the same as the day before, not worry too much about pace but more on feeling. The session was positive with pretty good feelings on the bike and the track so I was ready for the last session of the event. From exiting pit lane to coming in after the session, I don’t remember a thing. I fully shut my mind off and gave my absolute everything. I ended up going 2 seconds faster then my morning session and 1.5 seconds faster then my day 2 time. I threw absolutely everything at it and I have no regrets. There isn’t anything that I can say that I wish I did better. The coaches were making their selections and there was only room for 10 out of the 50 kids that made it to day 3. Again the states were at the bottom of the list but when I heard the name that came with it, I almost fully started crying. The name they selected from the states was Kristian Daniel Jr. I am so proud to say that an American got chosen but unfortunately it wasn’t me. To be fully honest with you guys, I also believe he was the correct choice. He had only a tiny bit more pace than me but he for sure has the experience over me. Their family has done the ultimate sacrifice and picked up and moved to Spain from America. A massive congratulations to the entire family, you guys deserve it.
Let me fill you in on some of the numbers that were shared with us at the end of day three. Red Bull Rookies had received over 8,000 applications this year from riders all across the globe. They invited 113 riders from that list. Of which 53 made it through the last day and 10 names were picked to join the championship. Just let those sink in. Sure I would of loved to have been the chosen American but the entire process for me was an accomplishment and a high honor.
I have already switched my mindset to what I have to do next year to avoid this selection event and go straight into the Rookies Cup for 2025. Winning the British Talent Cup in 2024 will earn me the spot for the 2025 season and no to stress out at the selection. I have now announced my Target #1 for 2024! Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. I'm looking forward to next year and I am going to work my hardest to get that slot next year.