Red Bull Rookies Cup: win in Mugello for Daijiro Hiura

2010-06-05 14:24
Young Japanese rider Daijiro Hiura used the guile and riding skill worthy of a track veteran on Saturday to emerge victorious from a tight pack of eight riders to win the third Red Bull Rookies Cup race of the season on the famous Mugello circuit in Italy.

Hiura positioned himself in the middle of the leading pack, then taking full advantage of the slipstream slipped into the lead just as riders were heading for the chequered flag. Hiura, 15, had a close encounter with Mathew Scholz of South Africa heading for the final corner but came oout on to to cross the line ahead of Scholtz and fellow South African Brad Binder (14). All riders in the Red Bull Rookies Cup ride identical KTM 125 machines.

Britain's Danny Kent, who topped the standings after the first two races in Jerez, Spain, finished fourth and now has to move aside for the Japanese rider. Hiura, who first won a Rookies race in Portugal in 2008, was clearly elated to be back on the podium. "It has been a long wait, I am so happy to have made it. We had a great race and it was impossible to break away. Mathew and I bumped going to the last corner but I braked so so late and still managed to get round okay and in the lead. Then I just went for the line."

Scholtz also said he had enjoyed a great race but said that he just couldn't close the gap on Hiura after they touched. "I got round okay but he was too far ahead to pick up the slipstream," he said. Binder put in an impressive ride taking the lead with seven laps to go and put a second between him and the rest of the field before the hungry young riders closed down on him.

The Red Bull Rookies next take to the MotoGP circuits with a double race weekend at Assen in The Netherlands on June 25-26.

Results
1. Daijiro Hiura, Japan, KTM, 31'22.777
2. Mathew Scholtz, South Africa, KTM, 31'23.054
3. Brad Binder, South Africa, KTM 31'23.057
4. Danny Kent, Britain, KTM, 31'23.065
5. Kevin Calia, Italy, KTN, 31'23.079

Standings after three of nine races
1. Daijiro Hiura, Japan, 61
2. Danny kent, Britain, 58
3. Daniel Ruiz, Spain, 51
4. Mathew Scholtz, South Africa, 41
5. Brad Binder, South Africa, 29

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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