More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:
Acosta takes it to another level in Rookies Cup Race 2 at Aragón
Saturday’s Race 1 victory was perfect but Pedro Acosta still cranked it up a notch for Race 2. The 16-year-old Spaniard charged away on Lap 1 leaving the chasing pack to wonder what happened.
The excitement was there though, a fantastic seven rider contest for 2nd with the KTM RC 250 Rs frequently rubbing fairings.
Acosta had a 5 second margin at the end and celebrated hugely as the other places were sorted out at the last corner. Daniel Holgado and David Muñoz touched and crashed coming onto the start and finish while David Alonso took second.
Izan Guevara crossed the line 3rd but lost his podium place to Iván Ortolá for exceeding track limits on the last lap. David Salvador picked up 5th ahead of Daniel Muñoz who had served a long lap penalty with 5 laps to go.
Acosta untouchable
“I think there was no difference really in the bike today, the temperature was a little different but not much. The difference was that last night I was talking with my helper Paco (Francisco Marmol Oliva) and he told me that I had to make a good start and break the group in the first lap.”
“I did it and I want to thank the group around me, it is only they that understand how hard we work to achieve these things.”
“Going fast on the first lap is not easy but talking with the Rookies Cup team and those close to me we discussed that I must finish the warm up lap with speed and be mentally ready and focused to be fast at the start. It worked.”
Alonso made a step
After finishing 4th 4 times in Austria and 5th on Saturday the 14-year-old Colombian got his first podium and jumped to 2nd in the title chase. “That’s great, finally we are on the podium and 2nd. Very happy. It’s a pity that Acosta was so fast from the first lap and made a gap. I tried to go with him but I couldn’t, maybe next race.”
“So I fought in the group and the most important thing is that I was able to think where I needed to be on the last lap and put myself second in the group then took the lead of the group right at the end for second on the podium.”
“I know I need to keep improving.”
Ortolá is a racer
Though he only qualified 11th, the 16-year-old Spaniard took 3rd in both Aragón races. “Very happy with that. I made a very good start and could run with the big front group. I knew what I had to do on the last lap, I was at the back of the group but I managed to overtake one or two riders and get into a good position for the last corner.”
“I crossed the line 4th but got the podium with the other rider getting a penalty.”
“For next week I have to do a better job of qualifying, the racing is OK but I have to work on that.”
Guevara not impressed
“I’m not happy because on the last lap I was pushed wide,” explained the 16-year-old Spaniard. “It was not my fault that I went on the green but it was me that got penalised. I’m not happy but that’s racing. I enjoyed the race, it was a great race but not the last lap.”
Salvador frustrated
“It’s really strange,” explained the 16-year-old Spaniard who won here last year. “It was another good race, a big battle and that’s good but I can’t be happy because the feeling in my bike is just not as good as last year and we really don’t know why. It makes the racing very hard because I just don’t have the same confidence as last year.”
Holgado walks away
In the battle all the way and frequently at the front of the pack as he was on Saturday, the 15-year-old Spaniard was fortunately unhurt in the spectacular last corner crash. David Muñoz escaped with a gashed chin.
“It was another tough race. Like yesterday I didn’t enjoy the track conditions, I think it was worse. I did everything I could and we were at the front but through the last corner another rider touched me and we crashed. Lucky I am OK.”
