Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup VIRginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia August 16, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results (all on KTM RC125s and Dunlop tires): 1. Tomas Puerta (Colombia), 1:34.981 2. Emerson Connor (Canada), 1:35.052 3. Hayden Gillim (USA), 1:35.199 4. Leandro Mercado (Argentina), 1:35.442 5. Austin Medrano (USA), 1:35.510 6. Joey Pascarella (USA), 1:35.701 7. Benny Solis, Jr. (USA), 1:35.736 8. Toriano Wilson (Bermuda), 1:35.825 9. Bryce Prince (USA), 1:35.949 10. Travis Wyman (USA), 1:36.216 11. Huntley Nash (USA), 1:36.232 12. Jacob Cunningham (USA), 1:36.251 13. Cameron Gish (USA), 1:36.269 14. Jacob Gagne (USA), 1:36.411 15. Corey Rech (USA), 1:36.629 16. Frankie Lee Gillim (USA), 1:36.756 17. Jesse Stevens (USA), 1:37.218 18. Corey Alexander (USA), 1:37.305 19. Austin Dehaven (USA), 1:37.328 20. Luciano Ribodino (Argentina), 1:39.090 21. Garet Tomlinson (USA), 1:39.617 22. Otavio Lucchini (Brazil), 1:40.172 More, from a press release issued by Red Bull: Tomy Time: Colombia’s Puerta Wins Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Pole In Virginia Alton, Virginia (August 16, 2008) — Colombia’s Tomas Puerta won the pole position for the Virginia International Raceway Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup event, taking the top qualifying spot for Sunday’s race with a late-session burner. Emerson Connor of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, was second fastest and less than 0.1 seconds behind Puerta. Mid-Ohio race winner Hayden Gillim was third quickest despite racing with a broken collarbone. Leandro Mercado joined them on the front row after setting his best time on the 19th lap of the half-hour qualifying session. Puerta won his first-ever Rookies Cup pole position on Saturday. “I’m very happy to get pole position. I’m excited for the race tomorrow and I want to earn my way onto the podium,” said Puerta, 15 years old, and is currently tied for fourth in points in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup. “I went in the pit lane near the end of the session and Randy, my mechanic, tweaked the rear suspension for me. The bike was very good today.” Puerta was the only man below 1:35 on the day, as his best lap was 1:34.981. For a while, it looked like Connor would be a surprise pole winner as he led going into the final moments. He has shown fine form this weekend after getting some track time at VIR this week. “I tried to push but Tomy pushed hard, too, and got me on the last lap,” said Connor, 13 years old. “Still, second place is very good and I’m happy to be on the front row. I’m going to try to win and make the Canadians proud tomorrow.” Gillim, from Owensboro, Ky., was third fastest even though he had surgery this week. “It hurt going over the bumps especially,” he said. “It might have taken away a little speed from me today but not too much. I was pretty happy with my times and we’ll see how we can do in the race tomorrow.” Gillim holds down third place in Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup points after winning the last event earlier this month. Elkhart Lake race winner Leandro Mercado was fourth in qualifying. Mercado, 16 years old, said riding on the VIR circuit definitely made for a steep learning curve but that he was making steady progress. “I have never been to this course before and it is hard to learn. There are lots of blind corners and it very challenging,” said Mercado, 16 years old. “It is a lot of fun putting together one good lap because it is so difficult. I will be ready for tomorrow, though. It will be a good race.” Narrowly missing the front row was Austin Medrano of Mustang, Okla. He was less than 0.1 seconds behind Mercado after putting in his best qualifying performance of the season. Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., was sixth, followed by four-time race winner and Rookies Cup series leader, Benny Solis. Solis had mechanical issues in the session. Toriano Wilson of Bermuda also qualified on the second row. Bryce Prince of Bakersfield, Calif., was ninth fastest after leading the morning session. Travis Wyman of Macedon, N.Y., rounded out the top ten on Saturday as the former dirt tracker continues to hone his skills on pavement. Jake Morman of Loganville, Ga., withdrew after giving it his best shot on Saturday morning. He injured his right hand last weekend in a non- Rookies Cup event. The 17-lap Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., local time on Sunday. Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Qualifying From Virginia International Raceway 1. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 1:34.981 2. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 1:35.052 3. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:35.199 4. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 1:35.442 5. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 1:35.510 6. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 1:35.701 7. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 1:35.736 8. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 1:35.825 9. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 1:35.949 10. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 1:36.216 11. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 1:36.232 12. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 1:36.251 13. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 1:36.269 14. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 1:36.411 15. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 1:36.629 16. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:36.756 17. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 1:37.218 18. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 1:37.305 19. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 1:37.328 20. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 1:39.090 21. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 1:39.617 22. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1:40.172 Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Points (after six races) 1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 120 points 2. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 97 3. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 77 4. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 62 5. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 62 6. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 55 7. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 53 8. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 40 9. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 39 10. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 27 11. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 27 12. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 26 13. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 24 14. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 24 15. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 22 16. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 22 17. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 22 18. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 12 19. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 10 20. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 8 21. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 6 22. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 4 23. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1