At what age do major sponsors start looking at potential athletes?

Major sponsors like Alpinestars begin scouting athletes at very young ages. They attend youth races and amateur events specifically to identify emerging talent early. Many of their top professional athletes, like Marc Marquez in MotoGP, have been with them since they were very young. Alpinestars supports youth development programs like Red Bull Rookies Cup (26 riders with full gear) and has presence at events like Loretta's. They track promising young riders, sometimes introducing themselves to families and monitoring progress over time. Starting to build relationships with brands early in your career can lead to long-term partnerships.