May 9, 2025

Road To MotoGP Turns Rocky For American Mikey Lou Sanchez

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RacingFIM JuniorGPFeatureMotoGPInternational

1224 web Mikey Lou Sanchez LZ6A1421 — Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) racing in FIM JuniorGP/European Talent Cup at Estoril in 2024. Photo courtesy Mikey Lou Sanchez Racing.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

By John Ulrich

The Road To MotoGP has turned rocky for former CMRA and MotoAmerica Mini Cup Champion Mikey Lou Sanchez, who turns 15 on May 11th. According to his parents, the talented young Texan lost his ride with Andifer American Racing after a challenging first round in the 2025 FIM JuniorGP European Talent Cup Series, at Estoril, Portugal despite his parents paying the team for his season-long ride, in advance. It’s a cautionary tale for American families trying to follow the DORNA Road To MotoGP in a foreign land.

His mom Trinity Richardson Sanchez wrote, “Mikey raced the first round at Estoril. He struggled in the beginning and unfortunately didn’t qualify for the main race. He had to go into the Last Chance race Sunday morning, with only the top two advancing to the main race, (but) Mikey pulled it off and finished 2nd. He then went into Race 1 starting 30th (dead last) on the grid. With mixed conditions Mikey was able to move all the way up to 8th position, only to crash out with 5 laps to go!

“Race 2 in the afternoon the conditions were good, and Mikey was able to move all the way up to 15th position only to be hit from behind in the last turn on the last lap which resulted in another crash and another dnf…”

His parents, Trinity and “Big Mike” Sanchez, issued the following statement:

“On behalf of Mikey Lou Sanchez, we are announcing the termination of our project with the Andifer American Racing Team for the 2025 season effective immediately. We had high hopes for this collaboration, however, due to unexpected and irreconcilable differences we are parting ways with the team. News for the remainder of the season is coming soon and we look forward to gridding up for the next race in Jerez. Thank you to all of the people who continue to support Mikey throughout his racing career.”

Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez currently races in the European Talent Cup in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship. Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing. — Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez in 2024, when he started racing in the European Talent Cup in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship. Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.

Asked to comment on the situation today at Le Mans by Roadracing World’s Mathilde Gasnier, American Racing owner Eitan Butbul declined to comment, said he is not the manager of Andifer American Racing and that Roadracing World should talk to the manager of the American Racing affiliated JuniorGP team, which Trinity Richardson Sanchez has identified as American Racing’s Ricard Jove.

We will post additional information as it becomes available.

American Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) in action during 2023. Photo courtesy Finetwork MIR Racing Team.

American Mikey Lou Sanchez. Photo courtesy Finetwork MIR Racing Team. — American Mikey Lou Sanchez in 2024. Photo courtesy Finetwork MIR Racing Team.

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