Daijiro Hiura set a pole time in the first qualifying session that withstood all the efforts of his opponents in the the second 30 minute timed session. Alongside the 13 year old Japanese on the grid for Saturday’s 6th race in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is 15 year old German Daniel Kartheininger and points leader Luis Salom, the 16 year old Spaniard. Completing the front row is 13 year old Portuguese Miguel Oliveira in only his second Rookies race. Hiura was frank about the way practice went. “I liked the track right from the start even though it is my first time here. It is a lot of fun but also very difficult. As always I tried many different lines and techniques to see what is best. On my quickest lap it was all very balanced, but it wasn’t easy to repeat. I tried again in the second session but could not improve.” “For the race it would be great to get away and ride on my own but I don’t think that is going to happen. It was easy for me to catch other riders but it was also easy for them to follow me so I don’t think it will be possible to get away. I think that it’s going to be a big fight with Salom, Dani and Miguel. Kartheininger was quickest in the free practice and second fastest in the first qualifying but still not entirely in love with the track. “Well, the first part is great, the flowing corners. They are a lot of fun. Then the chicane, I don’t like that, it is very difficult to get right and the same with the last two hairpins,” said the German after the first qualifying session. He had made his point but half way through the second qualifying he crashed at exactly that spot. “I just lost the front going into the chicane,” he said shaking his head and fortunately unhurt. He wasn’t pleased with himself at all but brightened with the news that he was fastest in that session and second overall. Salom was a bit frustrated with third. “Good; is sitting on pole… not 3rd,” he said with a grin. “I just couldn’t get it all right. I kept missing up one corner or another, I was having trouble with the old hairpin. Moving around on the bike is a still a bit sore after my practice crash in the Spanish Championship last weekend, plus my bike had a miss-fire at the top end. Tomorrow could be good,” he concluded; obviously with his eye on a 3rd Rookies win in a row and riding high after also winning the Spanish Championship round at Jerez a week ago. He could feel even more comfortable with the knowledge that Cup arch rival JD Beach sits back on the third row of the grid, 12th fastest and patching up his confidence after sliding off in the final session. “I got into the first corner too deep on the brakes and the front just slid away,” said the 16 year old American who trails Salom by 13 points in the Cup standings. “I’m just struggling to get this place sorted out and I don’t know where I’m going wrong.” Loving his first trip to Donington was Miguel Oliveira, back in action as a guest rider after finishing 8th as a wild card in his home event back in April. “It is such a great track, the surface is good, I’ve got a great feeling and am really enjoying myself,” he said after the first free session when he was 6th fastest. In the first qualifying session he was second fastest with 12 minutes to go when forced out with a mechanical problem. He was then pushed back to forth by Kartheininger and Salom. He overcame that frustration with a fine final qualifying, improved his time by 3 10ths and secured the front row start. A last minute absentee was Christian Trabalon. The Spaniard dislocated his shoulder falling from his bicycle just a few days before Donington but hopes to ride at Assen. Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Donington Park, England June 20, 2008 Final Qualifying Results (all on KTM RC125s with Dunlops tires): 1. Daijiro HIURA (JPN), 1:42.746 2. Daniel KARTHEININGER (GER), 1:42.811 3. Luis SALOM (SPA), 1:42.824 4. Miguel OLIVEIRA (POR), 1:42.980 5. Nelson MAJOR (FRA), 1:43.434 6. Jakub KORNFEIL (CZE), 1:43.582 7. Sturla FAGERHAUG (NOR), 1:43.605 8. Florian MARINO (FRA), 1:43.650 9. Dylan MAVIN (AUS), 1:43.739 10. Adam BLACKLOCK (GBR), 1:43.752 12. J.D. BEACH (USA), 1:44.446