Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands
June 27, 2015
Race Two Results (all on KTM RBR250s and Dunlop tires):
1. Bo BENDSNEYDER, Netherland, 16 laps, 28:28.167
2. Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO, Italy, -1.882 seconds
3. Oscar GUTIERREZ, Spain, -1.920
4. Enzo BOULOM, France, -1.949
5. Marc GARCIA, Spain, -22.748
6. Ayumu SASAKI, Japan, -22.932
7. Raul FERNANDEZ, Spain, -23.029
8. Bruno IERACI, Italy, -23.121
9. Makar YURCHENKO, Russia, -23.516
16. Gabriel HERNANDEZ III, USA, -60.093
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:
Perfect pair for Bendsneyder at Assen
A Dutch TT double for Bo Bendsneyder making it four Red Bull MotoGP Cup wins in a row for the 16-year-old Dutchman. Unlike Friday’s Race 1 where he had to fight to the line with Italian 16-Year-old Fabio Di Giannantonio, this time he built a clear advantage that grew to 3 seconds.
It was still Di Giannantonio second but this time he was scrapping with Oscar Gutierrez and Enzo Boulom for the rostrum places. That was only decided at the final corner with 15-year-old Spaniard Gutierrez across the grass to claim third leaving Boulom a slightly frustrated 18-year-old Frenchman just off the podium.
Two years in a row
Bendsneyder won last year’s Race 2 at Assen, also from pole, and he was the class act of the weekend heading all practice sessions on the KTM RC 250 R. “I want to thank the fans for their support, it was fantastic to see so many of them staying to watch our race. I had to push hard right from the start as I didn’t want a battle all the way like yesterday. I just kept concentrating on putting in the laps as perfectly as I could.”
“It wasn’t an easy race, only at the end I was able to relax a little as I had a good lead and it has been a perfect weekend. I am happy with four wins in a row and of course I’ll try to keep it going at the Sachsenring.”
The wrong way
Di Giannantonio has the new lap record from Race 1 and no one got near that this time. “The bike wasn’t perfect yesterday and we thought we could make it better,” explained the Italian. “Unfortunately it was the wrong setting and I couldn’t ride as fast. I couldn’t chase Bo and had to work very hard battling with Oscar and Enzo.”
“It was also more windy than yesterday and the bike was moving around a bit so we couldn’t lap as fast. I really enjoyed the fight though and it all came down to the last lap and I just rode absolutely on the maximum all the way including the last corner. Good points for the championship and I can’t wait for the Sachsenring.”
Just like Valentino
Olly Simpson’s Race 1 crash left him with a dislocated shoulder and the Australian could not start Race 2. The accident had split up Friday’s race and left Gutierrez a distant 3rd but this time he was right with Di Giannantonio all the way and trading places at almost every turn.
“It was a great race,” reported the Spaniard. “Such a tough battle, I thought I had second then Fabio was there right beside me at the last corner and I had nowhere to go but across the grass… just like Valentino,” he exclaimed with a huge smile.
A good fourth
Boulom can count himself a little unlucky not to pick up 3rd from the last corner drama but he was happy to have taken a step forward. “We went back to the qualifying settings and the bike was better. Also I rode better and made better use of the bike and the tyres. A shame about the last corner but I can turn it around at the Sachsenring.”
The season continues with Races 5 and 6 at the Sachsenring on July 11th & 12th.