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The grid for the 2023 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) has been revealed and sees a two-rider Australian representation of series newcomer Levi Russo alongside the returning Marianos Nikolis.

A 20-rider line-up will compete in the six-round season that spans from August to November, with notable returnees including 2022 runner-up Shinya Ezawa.

Former Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) champion Nikolis enters his third year in the championship, having finished P11 in both the 2021 and last year’s editions of the series. Russo was one of nine riders picked to join the 2023 grid at the selection event last October, and finished third in the 2022 FIM MiniGP Australia Series.

Of other Australians who contested the IATC last year, Carter Thompson will take the next step in the Road To MotoGP Program as he joins the Red Bull Rookies Cup for this season. Cameron Swain will not compete again in the series and is expected to contest the Supersport 300 and R3 Cup classes in the Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

Reigning Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Cameron Dunker – who was selected as a reserve for the IATC in 2023 – has announced that he will step up to the Supersport ranks this year in ASBK.

The 2023 IATC season commences with a test at the Sepang International Circuit between 12-13 August, before round one takes place at the Malaysian venue one week later on 18-20 August.

Image: Supplied.