It is graduation time for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, the last two races for the class of 2014 at Motorland Aragon this weekend. Valedictorian is almost bound to be Jorge Martín as the 16-year-old Spaniard has a 44 point advantage and only needs a single 10th place to secure the Cup.
The only person still with a mathematical chance of snatching the title and the prize, a KTM sports bike, from Martín is 17-year-old fellow countryman Joan Mir who would have to win both races and rely on Martín to fail.
Anyone but Martín to win Race 1
Clearly Martín may take a cautious approach to Race 1 this weekend but the other 22 who sit astride their KTM RC 250 Rs on the grid are unlikely too. Stefano Manzi is fresh from his Misano victory and the 15-year-old Italian has every chance to back up his first Cup win with one or two more as he concludes his third season.
Soushi Mihara, the 15-year-old Japanese, Toprak Razgatlioglu, the 17-year-old Turk and Bo Bendsneyder, the 15-year-old Netherlander have also won races this year and could do so again. Just think back to last year’s final lap at Aragon when Razgatlioglu almost snatched victory after an epic storm through the field.
On form for victory
Manuel Pagliani, the 18-year-old Italian was second was second in Misano, his fourth ‘bridesmaid’ finish of the year and after twelve months since his single win at Misano in 2013 he is just as frustrated as Manzi was. It could also be first time winner for there are others on form, Olly Simpson, the 16-year-old Australian comes from a fine second place behind local expert Bendsneyder in last weekend’s British Moto3 Championship race at Assen.
Of the first year Rookies it is only Bendsneyder who has a victory but that could change too with Fabio Di Giannantonio, the 15-year-old Italian, the man who has got closest, denied victory at the last corner of Race 2 in Brno by Mir.
Last chance to see
Unfortunately Jaume Masia will not be competing as the 13-year-old Spaniard is recovering from an ankle injury. It seems like it was only last week that 24 teenagers lined up in Jerez for the first races in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for 2014 on May 3rd and 4th but since then we have had 12 races and they have learnt a great deal.
Broadcast
Both races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 1 takes place on Saturday, July 12th at 16.30 CET and Race 2 is on Sunday at 15.30, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.