For the AUT RookiesCup RAC2 session
More, from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup press release:
Carpe makes an excellent double of Spielberg’s Rookies
Alvaro Carpe perfected race craft and speed to win Race 2 of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup at Spielberg. The 17-year-old Spaniard’s second win of the weekend was by a wide margin, but only because his nearest rival Brian Uriarte slipped in the final lap.
This left a small gap to Màximo Quiles and the 16-year-old Spaniard pushed to close, crossing the line 0.245 seconds behind Carpe. Indonesia’s 15-year-old Veda Pratama took an excellent 3rd for his first Rookies Cup podium.
Carpe scored 24 points against Uriarte
“50 points this weekend. I’m very happy because I did a good job improving step by step during the 3 sessions on Friday over the weekend. Today’s run was crazy, really hard, not as hot as yesterday but faster. There was a slippery patch on the second to last lap but I managed it.
“In the last lap, I saw on the TV screen that Brian crashed and I had a gap. I saw that Maximo was second then so I pushed really hard to keep this gap and I did it, the Rockies team did an incredible job this weekend, they helped me a lot.
Quiles moves to 3rd in title chase.
“It was a great race, very difficult conditions, in some corners, like turn 9 we had a bit of wet, so it was a bit more difficult. I didn’t have much confidence at first. In the last 4 laps I tried to push to open the gap and made a mistake, I decided to go wide and wait until the last lap.
“On the last lap, Brian was in front of me, he crashed and that created a little gap between me and Alvaro. I was a little angry because I wanted the win, I pushed him and I made a mistake in the gear and lost a little bit so I couldn’t catch him. A little angry but still good points for the championship.
Pratama celebrated Indonesia’s Independence Day yesterday, changing the pace to stage.
“I’m very happy with today’s race, I finally reached the podium. It was a very difficult race, I was not with the leading group at the beginning and I had to work hard to get there. I pushed hard and managed to catch it. Then I relaxed a bit, went a bit lighter than yesterday and just pushed it at the end, it worked.”
Guido Pini celebrated his return from injury to 4th in a spectacular performance.
“I’ve improved a lot since the first free practice so I’m really happy with that,” said the 16-year-old Italian after his first 2 Rookies Cup races of the year. “I had a good race today, I worked really hard to catch the front group and I’m happy with 4th, it’s great to be back racing again and I’ll enjoy the rest of the season.”
Valentin Perrone crossed the line 4th and missed out on a track limit penalty on the final lap.
“It was difficult,” said the 16-year-old Argentine. “The group wasn’t big but a lot of riders were going fast. At the start I settled in behind Carpe and Uriarte to break away from the group. But Maximo and the other riders caught up, I started pushing again to try to stay in front.
“On the last lap, in the second to last corner I tried to overtake Maximo but I went wide and lost to Maximo and Veda, I didn’t go well, P4.”
His response to punishment. “No, I don’t think I touched the green; That is wrong.”
Ruche Moodley moved well into 6th for Saturday’s fall.
The 17-year-old South African said: “The race didn’t start well, I got a false neutral and lost 5 places. “I had to work a lot. I thought I could catch the leaders, but I did but I caught them late in the race so I couldn’t get to the front. I’m glad we went for a short gear because I wanted to catch up from 10th.
Rico Salmela had a problem on the way from Dula to 7th
16-year-old Finn said: “I was pushing hard on the forehead. “I don’t know what happened but I couldn’t follow anyone in the drift stream. I continued to be neutral in the last 5 laps. The last lap in the chicane went into neutral and the guys behind me passed me and it was difficult to get back to the front.
Brian Uriarte ended a disappointing weekend by falling in the final round
“I was pushing it and I think there was a damp patch on the asphalt and I think I touched it, I ducked in front,” said the 16-year-old Spaniard. “It’s racing.”
“For today’s race I changed from long to short gear, it helped me a lot, especially at the start. I struggled yesterday.
