Alan Techer, the 16 year old Frenchman, scored his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup victory in the 2nd race of the German Grand Prix weekend at the Sachsenring. Chasing him across the line were two Germans, 15 year old Florian Alt ahead of 13 year old Willi Albert who was on the podium for the first time in his debut season. It was another Rookies classic with 10 teens fighting for the lead including Cup leaders Arthur Sissis and Lorenzo Baldassarri. Points leader Sissis put in a great performance forcing his way through from his 3rd row start and into the lead while Baldassarri struggled to get away from the back of the group. The terrible luck that saw Sissis miss out on points in the first race due to mechanical problems followed the 16 year old Australian into race 2 as he crashed at the penultimate corner clipping the rear of Alt’s machine. Italian 14 year old Baldassarri crossed the line 4th to take the points lead with 3 races remaining. “It was a great race, I enjoyed fighting in the group. It was tough though, every time I was lining up a rider in front to overtake someone from behind would overtake me. It worked a little better in the last few laps and I got a good run down the hill on the last lap and thought about passing Willi (Albert) but it was too risky and I am happy for 4th, sorry for Arthur (Sissis) but a lucky weekend for me.” A new track for Baldassarri but also for Techer who missed last year’s event following his early season injury. “I am so thrilled to win the race, I was unhappy to miss out on the podium yesterday after such a tough race and leading. I had trouble with the bike yesterday the rear was sliding too much. But I realised it wasn’t the bike it was me, I just wasn’t using the right lines, we didn’t change the bike, I adapted and it worked well. I was a bit worried at one point when I saw a few drops of rain on my visor but they went away and I was so determined not to be passed on that last lap.” Alt shrugged off is Saturday fall. “That’s history, I didn’t think about it. I didn’t make a good start but I settled in, I looked at the TV screen and saw we were all one big group so I just said to myself, ‘cool it’ and I relaxed a little then started working my way forward. By about lap 7 I got up to the front and then we had a great fight. On the last lap, going into the last 2 corners I was looking for a way past Alan but Arthur hit me and I was a bit too far back to try anything at the last corner.” It was not only the first podium for Willi Albert but his first finish in the top 10. “Not surprisingly he was thrilled and a bit lost for words. “What a great race, a great fight, we were all passing at every corner, then on the last lap Arthur crashed in front of me and I got lucky with a place on the podium.” Albert’s good fortune was a disaster for Sissis who explained it simply. “I was running through the corner looking for a good drive out but the guys in front had backed up and there was no missing Alt, I couldn’t do anything about it.” Another who could view the race with almost equal disappointment was Brad Binder, the 15 year old South African who finished 9th. He was right at the front looking to go one better than 2nd from Saturday’s race until his petrol tank came loose. “That’s my fault,” said his father who looks after the bike. “He was riding so well. Still it’s great to see him up at the front again this weekend.” Brad was philosophical about it. “I am happy with the way I am riding again and looking forward to the last races. These things happen, I might even get a new phone out of dad on the way home,” he concluded with a grin. Saturday’s winner Philipp Oettl was another who looked very much a potential winner leading for the first 6 laps. The 15 year old German did not make any excuses. “I didn’t do a good job today,” was his only comment. Going into the last 3 races of the year Baldassarri has a 6 point lead over Sissis with Techer and Oettl also still in with a mathematical chance of wining the Cup. The next races are at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic on August 13th and 14th. Race 2 Classification 1. Alan Techer (FRA) 29 minutes 07.927 seconds 2. Florian Alt (GER) +0.088 3. Willi Albert (GER) +0.283 4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.398 5. Tomas Vavous (CZE) +0.576 6. Philipp Oettl (GER) +0.689 7. Xavier Pinsach (ESP) +5.674 8. Stefano Valtulini (ITA) +5.812 9. Brad Binder (RSA) +5.913 10. Andrea Migno (ITA) +24.726 20. Joe Roberts (USA), -8 laps, DNF, crash Championship Point Standings (after 11 of 14 races): 1. Baldassarri, 172 points 2. Arthur Sissis, 166 3. Techer, 127 4. Oettl, 107 5. Binder, 85 6. Lukas Trautmann, 78 7. Oinsach, 76 8. Lopes, 74 9. TIE, Alt/Vavous, 67 18. TIE, Roberts/Migno, 33