2007 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Donington Park, England June 22, 2007 Final Qualifying Results (all on KTM 125s): 1. Lorenzo SAVADORI, ITA, 1:49.128 2. Cyril CARRILLO, FRA, 1:49.160 3. Luis SALOM, SPA, 1:50.777 4. Cristian TRABALON, SPA, 1:50.951 5. Markus REITERBERGER, GER, 1:51.675 6. Stuart MITCHELL, GBR, 1:51.863 7. Deane BROWN, GBR, 1:52.143 8. Matthew HOYLE, GBR, 1:52.242 9. Lukas SEMBERA, CZE, 1:52.312 10. Daniel KARTHEININGER, GER, 1:52.407 11. Peter SEBESTYEN, HUN, 1:53.175 12. Javier CHOLBI, SPA, 1:53.614 13. Adam BLACKLOCK, GBR, 1:55.196 Not qualified (Out 107%) 1:56.767 14. Kevin SÁNCHEZ, SPA, 1:57.902 15. Sturla FAGERHAUG, NOR, 2:00.151 16. Lucy GLÖCKNER, GER, 2:05.183 17. Jamie MOSSEY, GBR, no time 18. Cameron BEAUBIER, USA, no time 19. Kris TURNER, USA, no time 20. Johann ZARCO, FRA, no time 21. Robert GULL, SWE, no time 22. J.D. BEACH, USA, no time Because of the exceptional weather conditions, Race Direction decided to admit all non-qualified riders to the race. More, from a press release issued by Red Bull: Italian Lorenzo Savadori and Frenchman Cyril Carrillo battled all the way through the second qualifying session on a drying track. Carrillo fell on the last corner of the last lap as he attempted to snatch pole. “It’s great to start on pole,” said Savadori. “The bike is just great, the engine perfect. It was sliding around a lot but that was the conditions.” Completing the front row of the grid behind Savadori and Carrillo are Spaniards Luis Salom and Cristian Trabalon. Three practice sessions, a free 20 minutes closely followed by two 25 minute qualifying sessions gave the Red Bull Rookies another valuable lesson. Especially as they started with a soaking wet track and had to adapt as it dried out. Heinrich, ‘Heini’ Brandsätter, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup technical supervisor made the situation plain to the riders at the briefing before the first, non qualifying, session. “The schedule is so tight today with almost no time between the three sessions that we will not be able to repair any crashed bikes. You have to keep that in mind.” An extremely valuable lesson for the Rookies to learn going into their third event. Championship leader Lorenzo Savadori obviously had that very much in mind as the first of the three sessions started on a soaking wet track. He was well towards the slow end of the 22 rider field early in the 20 minute session. By the end of the period he was much quicker though and had quickly worked out the sections he found hardest. “That is probably the most difficult corner,” said Lorenzo pointing at the tight right hand ‘old hairpin’, at the bottom of the first downhill section. “You feel that the front can slide away there very easily. Then from there you have to accelerate up hill through the long left handers and you can feel the back end sliding out all the way through. That section and the first corner on the track, the right hander, also on acceleration, they are the most difficult bits,” concluded the championship leader. The Italian was fastest by the end of session two, the first qualifying period. Quick man almost all the way through both opening sessions was Frenchman Cyril Carrillo. “The bike is great and I really enjoy the track even though it is still very slippery,” he reported after ending the session less than three tenths slower than Savadori. Though British Rookie Stuart Mitchell had never ridden at Donington before he was rising to the challenge on the drying track in that first timed session. “There is not really a dry line around the track yet, there are some dry places but in other areas there is still water running across the track and it’s very wet, at lot of fun.” Third quickest in the first qualifier was fellow countryman Matthew Hoyle, a bit of Donington experienced helped. “I have ridden here four times including a race last year when it was very wet. It’s slippery, but fun.” Spaniard Luis Salom lay fourth fastest ahead of Germany’s Daniel Kartheininger. “Very slippery,” said Dani with his characteristic cheeky grin. There were those who had not taken sufficient notice of the pre practice warning, six had damaged their bikes in the non qualifying session and two more in the qualifier. They included Johann Zarco, lying second in the championship. The Frenchman was quick in the wet non qualifying session just as he had been fast in the wet in Mugello but unfortunately fell right at the end of the session. He was one of those who would not get any qualifying time and line up on the back of the grid. The positions between the six decided on their times in the non qualifying session. ´ Zarco was joined on the crash list who could not continue by Jamie Mossey (GBR), Cameron Beaubier (USA), Kris Turner (USA), Robert Gull (SWE) and JD Beach (USA). Norwegian Sturla Fagerhaug and German Lucy Gloeckner made it through the free practice OK but fell in the first qualifying session. Fortunately they were unhurt as were the rest of the Rookies. With the track continuing to dry it was obvious that the fastest times were going to come from the final session but with many wet patches and still points with water running across the track all riders still had the wet weather Dunlops fitted. As soon as fast men Carrillo and Savadori completed their second lap together cutting 5 seconds off their time from the previous session the battle was on between them. After 4 laps they both came into the pits together before going out alone and chasing better times. It was clear that half way through the second 25 minute qualifying session that the drying track had taken the best out of the wet weather tyres. Savadori was quickest and eased off a little but Carrillo kept pressing, trying to snatch the pole. He almost stole the advantage a couple of times but could not put the perfect lap together, then he slid off at the final corner. “The tyres were worn but I kept trying, just learning how they feel when they are like that,” said Carrillo. “I was not really pushing so hard but then at the last corner the front tucked under and I fell. It was just a small crash and I picked up the bike immediately. I am really enjoying it here and looking forward to the race.” It was not a good day for the three Americans, all early fallers and at the end of the second qualifying session Red Bull’s World Champion Nicky Hayden had time for some words of encouragement for two his fellow countrymen JD Beach and Cameron Beaubier who had been forced just to watch. “It’s all part of racing and keeping the rubber side down is key,” said Hayden. “Ride smart.” Another of the many Grand Prix stars maintaining a keen interest in the Rookies Cup is 125cc World Championship leader Gabor Talmacsi. The Hungarian was naturally encouraging fellow countryman Peter Sebestyen. “It is a fantastic Championship,” enthused Talmacsi. “It is a great way for the young generation to start. The bikes are perfect, just what they should be learning to race on and I think the whole thing is a fantastic opportunity for them.” Those Grand Prix stars will no doubt be watching Saturday’s 17 lap race that starts at 16.15 in England (17.15 Central European Time). Those who cannot watch live can follow each rider’s progress through the Live Timing on the Rookies web site www.redbullrookiescup.com