|
| 18.07.2010 |
| Jake Gagne cracks the Red Bull Rookies Cup double on the Sachsenring |
| American Red Bull Rookie Jake Gagne made it a weekend to remember at Germany’s Sachsenring winning both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races by deploying the same smooth tactics in the final stages of both races to be first through the checkered flag. |
|
Brad Binder, 14, of South Africa was again a contender for the top of the podium on the second day right up till the final corner but was again able to out maneuver Gagne and had to settle for second. Japan’s Daijiro Hiura made a comeback to the podium and snatched third place after an impressive ride from the rear of the pack.
It was an unlucky day for the two former championship leaders. Britain’s Danny Kent who topped the leader board going into the race and his closest rival this season, Spaniard Daniel Ruiz, crashed during the race. Kent managed to rejoin the race and both were uninjured.
It was a golden weekend of racing for the Californian who started on pole position and tucked into the lead group in both races, waiting for just the right moment to make his move in the final lap of the 19-lap (70 km) race distance in what was near to perfect conditions on the German circuit. Gagne seemed consistent and confident right from the start and remained in the front group of challengers waiting for his moments. With 13 laps to go he made a break away but Binder refused to let him take the glory on his own. He and Italian Alejandro Pardo made Gagne work for his victory, made a little easier when Kent, who was cvonsistently hovering, ended in the track side gravel.
Jake Gagne: I was pretty confident I could do it again. At one point Brad and I got away from the others a bit but I wasn't too surprised when they closed back up again. Then it was all one group and I pretty much played it like yesterday and managed to get away just before the end.”
It was a fine race from Binder who had a great start from the third row of the grid. Brad Binder: "I think I was about fourth going into the first corner. Then I got up with Jake and he and I went away a bit but we couldn't stay clear of the group. Then later on I had a go at leading but also couldn't get away.”
It was also an excellent confidence building performance from the 15-year old Hiura, who led the championship standings for the first half of the season before a couple of unlucky races dropped him down the order.
Gagne now leads the championship points table, Kent trails him by 14 points, Ruiz is third and Hiura is back at fourth just four points behind the Spanish rider. With the championship points still very close, the fight for the title looks like going right down to the wire. There are still points up for grabs at the double header at Brno in the Czech Republic (August 14-15) as part of the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic weekend with a single race to conclude the season at Misano on September 4th. All Red Bull Rookies ride identical KTM 125 racing machines.
Pix: Red Bull
Race 2 Classification
1. Jacob Gagne (USA) 28 minutes 51.091 seconds (145.050 km h)
2. Brad Binder (RSA) +0.119
3. Daijiro Hiura (JPN) +0.667
4. Alejandro Pardo (ITA) +2.670
5. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +2.687
6. Alexander Kristiansson (SWE) +2.777
7. Taylor Mackenzie (GBR) +3.810
8. Joshua Hook (AUS) +9.738
9. Arthur Sissis (AUS) +22.148
10. Florian Alt (GER) +22.627
Standings
1 Gagne, 117 points
2. Danny Kent, Britain, 103
3. Daniel Ruiz, Spain, 93
4. Hiura, 89
5. Binder, 87 |
|
 |
| Jake Gagne heads for the podium for the second time in two days
|
|
 |
| Brad Binder in action
|
|
 |
| Top performance guaranteed with Red Bull Rookies riding identical KTM 125 racing machines |
|
|
