NeroGiardini Motorrad Grand Prix Von Osterreich
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Red Bull Ring, Austria
August 14, 2016
Race Two Results (all on KTM 250s and Dunlop tires):
1. Aleix Viu, Spain, 17 laps, Total Race Time 28:18.781
2. Ayumu Sasaki, Japan, -0.183 second
3. Marc Garcia, Spain, -0.263
4. Rufino Florido, Spain, -11.560 seconds
5. Kevin Orgis, Germany, -11.567
6. Kaito Toba, Japan, -11.713
7. Raul Fernandez, Spain, -11.790
8. Patrick Pulkkinen, Finland, -11.892
9. Ai Ogura, Japan, -27.034
10. Rory Skinner, UK, -27.035
17. Sean Kelly, USA, -27.923
Championship Point Standings (after 8 of 13 races):
1. Sasaki, 155 points
2. Viu, 132
3. Fernandez, 122
4. Garcia, 100
5. Toba, 70
6. Florido, 57
7. Yurchenko, 54
8. Skinner, 46
9. Salac, 42
10. Bonoli, 39
23. Kelly, 3
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:
Finally Viu in Red Bull Ring Race 2
After a string of second places, Aleix Viu would not be denied his victory on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring. An incredible final lap of Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup action on the KTM RC 250 Rs saw the 15-year-old Spaniard respond to attacks by Ayumu Sasaki and Marc Garcia and lead them across the line to claim his second win of the year.
For sixteen laps Viu led Garcia and Sasaki, he had been the fastest man all weekend, through two free practice sessions, qualifying and Race 1 but he had been similarly impressive at the Sachsenring only to leave with two second places. After losing Saturday’s victory because he exceeded track limits there was no way he would let this one get away.
Great plan
“The three of us had agreed before the race that we wouldn’t fight until the end,” explained Viu. “We knew that it needed to be like that to get away from the others. On the last lap I knew Ayumu and Marc would attack and I also knew I just had to pass them straight back, I was feeling great on the bike and I was confident I could do it.”
“Before Race 1 I planned to try and get away in front but I couldn’t do it so it made sense to run with Ayumu and Marc this time, I just made sure I didn’t exceed track limits. I have felt great on the bike these last races, we have a good setting and it is gives me great confidence so I think we can carry this to Brno next weekend,” enthused the Catalan.
Great rides
Sasaki, the 15-year-old Japanese, put in the big effort on the final lap after sitting in third all the way. “Yes I am happy with that, I did what I had to on the last lap, I got past Aleix but he is very strong here and he could pass again, I didn’t give up but he was just in front at the last corner. Still I can be satisfied as we improved for yesterday,” asserted Saturday’s third place finisher.
Garcia was right there again as he had been on Saturday and only lost out by a fraction in the last lap shuffle. “I had a plan to pass Aleix on the last lap but Ayumu passed me first, then it all got very exciting, I tried a couple of times and again going into the last two corners but it just wasn’t possible. Still is was a good weekend and good points for the championship,” concluded the 16-year-old Spaniard.
Great battle
Rufino Florido picked up a very hard won fourth after an intense contest over the last few laps with the 16-year-old Spaniard finally getting the better of Kevin Orgis, Kaito Toba, Raul Fernandez, and Patrick Pulkkinen. “I just could go with the front guys,” explained Florido. “They were too quick today but I think Brno will be different, I want to win there.”
Another with big ideas for next week in Brno is Raúl Fernández, the 15-year-old Spaniard lost second place in the Cup table to Viu by finishing seventh. “I haven’t had a good weekend, the bike was good in Race 2 but I just couldn’t get to the front. Brno should be different, a good track for me. It was there that I got on the podium for the first time last year.”
Great results
Ex Rookies Brad Binder and Johann Zarco continued to extend their World Championship leads in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes respectively. Zarco took victory in Moto2 while Binder claimed second in Moto3 in an all ex Rookie podium with 8 of the top 10 being Cup graduates.