Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama April 19, 2008 Qualifying Results (all on Dunlop-shod KTM RC125s): 1. Benny Solis, Jr., USA, 1:34.616 2. Leandro Mercado, Argentina, 1:34.700 3. Joey Pascarella, USA, 1:34.726 4. Toriano Wilson, Bermuda, 1:34.895 5. Tomas Puerta, Colombia, 1:35.355 6. Hayden Gillim, USA, 1:36.020 7. Corey Rech, USA, 1:36.224 8. Austin DeHaven, USA, 1:36.265 9. Bryce Prince, USA, 1:36.278 10. Cameron Gish, USA, 1:36.330 11. Luciano Ribodino, Argentina, 1:36.654 12. Huntley Nash, USA, 1:36.817 13. Travis Wyman, USA, 1:37.147 14. Frankie Lee Gillim, USA, 1:37.325 15. Austin Medrano, USA, 1:37.399 16. Jacob Gagne, USA, 1:37.618 17. Emerson Connor, Canada, 1:37.690 18. Otavio Lucchini, Brazil, 1:37.701 19. Garet Tomlinson, USA, 1:37.720 20. Jake Morman, USA, 1:38.106 21. Jacob Cunningham, USA, 1:38.356 22. Corey Alexander, USA, 1:39.210 More, from a press release issued by Red Bull: SOLIS EARNS FIRST RED BULL AMA U.S. ROOKIES CUP POLE Leeds, Alabama (April 19, 2008) — The first-ever Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race weekend got off to a fabulous start at sunny Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday. Benny Solis, Jr., of North Hollywood, Calif., won the first-ever pole position for the class. Joining the 13-year-old on the front row are fellow Rookies Leandro Mercado, Joey Pascarella, and Toriano Wilson. Solis, Jr., was less than one-tenth of a second quicker than his closest competition, setting the mark of 1:34.616 on his KTM RC 125 as the checkered flag flew. “I got a tow from two of my friends and I just put my head down and did the best I could,” said Benny. “This is the first race so I was really excited to see my number on top of the scoring pylon.” Leandro Mercado of Argentina nearly caught Solis and finished with a lap of 1:34.726. 16-year-old “Tati” said, “It was hard to get in the rhythm of qualifying. I overshot a couple of corners, but towards the end I got it down. I hope to do the same tomorrow in the race.” Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., was third quickest. 15-year-old Pascarella was the fastest in the morning practice session and added a strong qualifying performance as well. “I picked up the pace towards the end and went as hard as I could. I had a little problem with the bike slipping around, but apart from that, everything was perfect. I was giving the best I could and the other guys were so fast “¦ I was hoping to get on the front row and I did.” Toriano Wilson has been very quick in testing and the Bermuda native was less than 0.3 seconds behind pole position, making for a fast front row. He earned his starting spot with the help of a drafting partner, he said. “I was slowing down and trying to find a tow and I saw Benny. I tried to keep up with him but he was very fast,” said Toriano, 14-years old. The second row of the grid is equally filled with talented riders. Tomas Puerta of Medellin, Colombia; Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky.; Corey Rech of Liverpool, NY; and Austin DeHaven of Los Angeles, Calif., earned the fourth through eighth starting spots. Jesse Stevens of Lawrenceville, Ga., crashed early in the morning practice and did not ride in qualifying, but hopes to race on Sunday. Rider Coach Kevin Schwantz was impressed by the Rookies on Saturday. “Benny put in his fastest lap on the final time around as the checkered flag came out. I think it shows it wasn’t decided to the very end and it was quite exciting. I think it shows what the Rookies Cup is all about,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good race and everyone thinks we will.” The Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup 11-lap race begins Sunday at 11:00 a.m. local time. Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup – Qualifying Times – Barber Motorsports Park 1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 1:34.616 2. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 1:34.700 3. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 1:34.726 4. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 1:34.895 5. 2 Tomas Puerta, Medellin Colombia 1:35.355 6. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:36.020 7. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 1:36.224 8. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 1:36.265 9. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 1:36.278 10. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 1:36.330 11. 11 Luciano Ribodino, San Francisco, Argentina 1:36.654 12. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 1:36.817 13. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 1:37.147 14. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:37.325 15. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 1:37.399 16. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona California 1:37.618 17. 50 Emerson Conner, Burlington, Ontario 1:37.690 18. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1:37.701 19. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 1:37.720 20. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 1:38.106 21. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 1:38.106 22. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 1:39.210 23. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia No time