Almost half way – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup – Preview of Race 5, Mugello, Italy – May 31st Half distance approaches in the 2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with the 5th of 10 races held this weekend in Mugello. Just 8 points separate leader Luis Salom from JD Beach and they will be pressed hard by Daijiro Hiura, who beat them both in Portugal. Being only 13, Japanese ace Hiura had to miss the last round in France but is in action again at the Italian round with a good chance of putting his title attack back on track thanks to the rule that all riders must drop one result from their Cup points total at the end of the season. While he hopes for his second victory 16 year old American Beach is still looking for his first win after taking second in all 4 rounds so far. Spanish 16 year old Salom dominated the double header that opened the season in Jerez but knows that Beach is closing the experience gap every weekend and though Salom fended off the race long attention of Beach to win in Le Mans the American dirt tracker is getting more comfortable on tarmac with every outing. Others, like 16 year old Norwegian Sturla Fagerhaug, have had a less consistent season. As he showed with a superb third in Portugal he is well capable of challenging them for the race win as soon as he overcomes the bad starts that have upset his challenge so far with the result that he lies 4th in the points, 40 behind Salom. Third in the standings, 2 points ahead of Fagerhaug, is French 15 year old Nelson Major, the best of the newcomers to the Cup this season. He has been getting stronger every race and made the podium at his home event after getting the best of a race long battle with 15 year old German Daniel Kartheininger and 14 year old Frenchman Florian Marino. All three of them could step up and challenge for the top places in Italy. Following the age restricted French round the grid is back to full strength at Mugello with 23 starters as Nigerian Italian Alessio Cappella competes in his first race having turned 13 on April 27th. English 16 year old Ben McConnachie has his second Rookies race as a temporary replacement for Deane Brown who is recovering well from the broken leg he sustained at a non Cup event in Britain. Championship Point Standings: 1. Luis Salom, 88 points 2. J.D. Beach, 80 3. Nelson Major, 50 4. Sturla Fagerhaug, 48 5. Daijiro Hiura, 47 6. Deane Brown, 42 7. Daniel Ruiz, 34 8. Daniel Kartheininger, 24 9. TIE, Florian Marino/Markus Reiterberger/Jakub Kornfeil, 22