Red Bull Rookies Cup: Beñat Fernandez was almost taken out at the final Le Mans double right-hander by fellow 18-year-old Spaniard David Gonzalez.
But while Gonzalez skated past his front wheel and into the gravel, Fernandez extended his points lead in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with a perfect win.
Japanese 17-year-old Ryota Ogiwara was an excellent 2nd just ahead of Colombian 15-year-old Mateo Marulanda.
They had both come from the middle of the grid to join the race-long battle for the lead that went all the way to the flag.
1st – Beñat Fernandez (Spain)
“I got in front from the start, but I didn’t feel that the front had the grip I needed to get away, so I decided to just stay near the front. I thought that David would try something at the end, I was in front, so the only thing I could do was brake right on the limit. Then I knew that if he was going to brake later, he would be in trouble.”
2nd – Ryota Ogiwara (Japan)
“I didn’t expect this result. I was not that fast in Qualifying. I started P13, but I got a good start and up to maybe 7th or 6th at turn one, and I thought, ‘yes, I can battle in the front group’. I had a super good feeling on the bike, and I kept pushing. No way to have a plan for the last lap, everyone was so close, just do the maximum.”
3rd – Mateo Marulanda (Colombia)
“That was so difficult because at the beginning, I was so far back from P11 on the grid and not really a great start. I just kept pushing and managed to close down on the leaders and finally battle at the front and get the podium. I am so happy with the progress because I was not happy with the track at the start of practice.”
4th – Fernando Bujosa (Spain)
“Points for the championship, it was another great race, a lot of fighting. I learnt a bit today. I was waiting for the end, but when I had to push, the rear tyre had lost a bit of grip, and I couldn’t get to the front. I am one of the bigger guys, and I feel my weight is a disadvantage.”
5th – Travis Borg (Malta)
“In the beginning, I lost the lead group, and then I started to push, and so I caught up and managed to get to P2, but then lost a bit of grip, so fighting for the win was too risky. I had to think about the points and finished P5. I hope that it will be dry tomorrow because I’m not really good in the wet.”
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