American hopeful racing at Donington Park this Saturday Sixteen year old American hopeful, JD Beach, is racing at Donington Park this weekend in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, and is looking to continue his good form, having scored five consecutive 2nd place finishes in as many rounds up to this point. Facing him will be Luis Salom, the experienced Spanish rider who has won four times and leads the standings by 13 points over Beach. JD is optimistic, however. “Going into this next race it’s just the same as it’s been all year, just at a different track. I’m going into it ready to win. (Luis) Salom has done really well this year and to beat him would really be great.” The likeable rider from Seattle, Washington, now training and living in Kentucky with the Gillim brothers, has seen his performance improve greatly from last year, which was only his first season of road racing. “The season so far has gone really well. I have been doing pretty good and finishing well. I have made a lot of improvements and that’s what it’s all about.” Those improvements have come about from hard work and training, as well as coaching from coach Gustl Auinger and also personal coach, Casey Stoner. “Having Casey around last year and this year has been great. He knows how it feels traveling so much and being so far away from home. He doesn’t only help me on the track but off the track as well.” With the season at the halfway point, Beach is reflective. “I would just like to thank everyone who has been behind me all these years and has helped me out. Each year seems to get better and better and we keep meeting such great people so it’s a lot of fun.” As the sole American in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, JD has made no bones that one of his goals this year that he has been working so hard for is to join compatriot, Cameron Beaubier, next year in the Red Bull MotoGP Academy. And Beaubier will be on hand this weekend, to offer his support.