Danny Kent wins second Red Bull Rookies Cup race in Jerez

2009-05-03 09:31
British rider Danny Kent exacted his revenge on Saturday's winner Sturla Fagerhaug of Norway on Sunday when he slipped past him in the closing stages to take victory in the second race for the Red Bull Rookies Cup on the Jerez circuit.

Fagerhaug had mostly led from the fourth of 15 laps but Kent, third on Saturday, repeatedly challenged him in the closing stages. The two traded the lead back and forth and just as it seemed sure that the 17-year-old Norwegian was about to take his second win in two days, Kent slipped out of the slipstream and stole his thunder by just 0.060 of a second just before the drop of the flag.

Good tactics from Kent
The young British, 15-year-old rider was affected by the windy conditions saying: "Every time I got in front the wind just pushed me back, it was so much easier to stay in the slipstream. There was no real way to break away. I wasn't going to make the same mistake as yesterday so I kept counting down the laps as I crossed the line and went for it on the last lap, it wasn't an easy move, I was determined, it was 'win it or bin it.'"

Fagerhaug satisfied with weekend
Fagerhaug said he was not surprised when Kent made his move in the last corner. "I wasn't surprised that Danny came past there, I thought I could pull it back on the inside and drive past on the way out but I was just a bit too close and had to back off slightly or hit his back wheel ... that was it. Still a win and a second is not too bad from the weekend, it could have been a lot worse."

Hiura battles against windy conditions
Daijiro Hiura, the 15-year-old Japanese who crashed out Saturday after falling victim to the blustery conditions on the Jerez circuit, was third to complete the podium. He said he too was bothered by the wind but was happy to pick up points and said he is going for the win when the cup competition resumes in Mugello.

Thankfully the race was less dramatic for the young riders thank on Saturday and even though there were some spills in the tightly fought field of 24 starters, there were no serious injuries. Harry Stafford, the 15-year-old that took a hard fall on Saturday sustained serious concussion and a broken right collarbone. Although doctors say he will make a complete recovery, he is expected not to race for several months.

The Red Bull KTM Moto Sport factory team has announced that Sturla Fagerhaug will be given a wild card to ride for the team in the 15 cc GP at Le Mans, France, in two weeks time.


Race Two Results
1. Danny Kent, Britain, KTM, 28:39.881
2. Sturla Fagerhaug, Norway, KTM, 28:39.941
3. Daijiro Hiura, Japan, KTM, 28:40.730
4. Florian Marino, France, KTM, 28:43.662
5. Alejandro Pardo, Italy, LTM, 28:43.662

Standings after Race Two
1. Sturla Fagerhaug, Norway, 45 points
2. Danny Kent, Britain, 41
3. Matthew Scholtz, South Africa, 29
4. Alejandro Pardo, Italy, 21
5. Jakub Kornfiel, Czech Republic, 18

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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