American Red Bull Rookie Jake Gagne wins on Germany's Sachsenring2010-07-17 22:56Californian Jake Gagne made his presence felt both on Friday and Saturday on Germany's Sachsenring when he took pole position and then won Saturday's Red Bull Rookies Cup race. Gagne's victory on his KTM 125 closed up the gap in the championship standings and puts him in the box seat for the double in Sunday's second race. The 16-year-old stayed cool and calculating in the front pack of riders in what is always a tightly fought race among these hungry young riders then just as the 19-lap race was drawing to a close, he surged into the lead, closely shadowed by 14-year-old South African Brad Binder. Gagne was first over the line with Binder second and 16-year-old Briton Danny Kent picking up the minor places. Jake Gagne: "I was just in the group for most of the race and watching what the other guys were doing. With about 3 laps to go I got to the front and tried to get away. I knew that Brad (Binder) had gone with me but over the last few corners I knew I was pretty strong and I braked pretty deep so I didn't think he'd be able to get by." Binder did well to be up with Gagne at the finish as he had to fight his way back from thirteenth in the early part of the race. Brad Binder: "I had to ride hard to catch up. When I did that I really wanted to get on the podium and I got up the front when Jake took the lead. I went with him and I was looking for a way past to win but he was braking at the very last millisecond and there was no way past.... this time." Danny Kent's third place vaulted him into the championship lead ahead of Daniel Ruiz of Spain, who now trails by six points. Gagne is just one point behind in third place, indicating that the title is still wide open. Kent was back at tenth on the grid but made a great start and fought his way into contention. It was not a happy day for Ruiz who admitted after the race that he had "made a mess of the start". The 18-year-old Spaniard, who has been consistently in the points this season, gets another chance to retake the championship lead in tomorrow's race. With four races left to go and the title still up for grabs, it will be another hard fought race as these junior track tacticians continue to thrill and impress on the GP circuits. All competitors in the Red Bull Rookies Cup ride identical KTM 125s. Race 1 Classification 1 Jacob Gagne (USA) 29 minutes 10.099 seconds (143.475 kph) 2. Brad Binder (RSA) +0.066 3. Danny Kent (GBR) +0.929 4. Alexander Kristiansson (SWE) +0.936 5. Kevin Calia (ITA) +0.995 6. Joshua Hook (AUS) +1.403 7. Daniel Ruiz (ESP) +1.465 8. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +1.652 9. Taylor Mackenzie (GBR) +10.021 10. Florian Alt (GER) +18.813 Standings 1 Kent 99 points 2. Ruiz, 93 3. Gagne 92 Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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