Red Bull Rookies, Jerez: Race 2 report

Ayumu Sasaki bettered Saturday’s winner Aleix Viu to take Race 2 at Jerez and the pair end the first weekend of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup’s tenth season tied on points.

Again it went down to the last corner but this time it was Sasaki who had the edge and while Viu tried to get alongside he was clipped by Raul Fernandez who slid off. Rufino Florido was right there to pick up the final rostrum place.

It was a typically faultless performance from Sasaki and the KTM. “I am very happy with that,” explained the 15-year-old Japanese. “We made a very slight change to the rear suspension after yesterday and that helped just where it was important at the end of the race. I wasn’t really faster but I had the confidence to out brake Viu and that is what I did at the last corner.”

“It was a great race, all the guys were quick. Viu was very fast again but I knew that I was just a little better off with the setting than yesterday and I had the confidence for the last lap.”

Viu was happy enough with second. “Yes I can’t complain,” admitted the 15-year-old Spaniard. “The bike was perfect again. The only difference was the higher track temperature so it was sliding around a bit more than yesterday but I still had a very good feeling.”

“I had a plan for the last lap and I was hoping to the same as yesterday. I did pass Sasaki but this time he was able to get me back at the last corner even though I braked as late as possible. Then Raul clipped me but that didn’t change anything really.”

“It has been a great way to start the season, I am very confident with the bike now and I think we will carry that to the next races. It really is working brilliantly and I’ve got a lot of confidence in it,” enthused Viu looking forward to his second year on the KTM.

“I could have done better,” explained 16-year-old Spaniard Florido. “It was a great race, I really enjoyed it but I just didn’t have the confidence I needed in the final sector to make a play for the win. I did everything I could but I was going to have to take a very big risk to do more. I am happy with a podium and the good result yesterday. A bit more work on the bike and I can do more at the next races.”

An excellent fourth for Walid Soppe after the 16-year-old Dutchman rode a more controlled race than Saturday and finished ahead of Marc Garcia who was fifth and scored his first points after missing Saturday’s race when he slid off on the sighting lap.

Pole man Kaito Toba had another torrid race. After falling on the first lap on Saturday he was almost thrown off early again, survived that but slipped back in the pack and then fell at the last corner while fighting for seventh.

There is now a bit of a break in the 13 race season with the next event at Assen on June 25th and 26th.

Source: Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup