Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio August 3, 2008 Provisional Race Results (all on KTM RC125s and Dunlop tires):

1. Hayden Gillim USA), 16 laps 2. Benny Solis, Jr. (USA), -3.301 seconds 3. Leandro Mercado (Argentina), -3.767 4. Jacob Gagne (USA), -4.159 5. Joey Pascarella (USA), -4.778 6. Tomas Puerta (Colombia), -4.868 7. Austin DeHaven (USA), -13.253 8. Emerson Connor (Canada), -13.854 9. Jacob Morman (USA), -26.051 10. Cameron Gish (USA), -26.470 11. Toriano Wilson (Bermuda), -33.693 12. Austin Medrano (USA), -33.789 13. Corey Alexander (USA), -33.897 14. Jesse Stevens (USA), -34.076 15. Frankie Lee Gillim (USA), -34.284 16. Corey Rech (USA), -34.522 17. Jacob Cunningham (USA), -34.943 18. Bryce Prince (USA), -51.201 19. Travis Wyman (USA), -51.605 20. Huntley Nash (USA), -55.729 21. Luciano Ribodino (Argentina), -57.474 22. Otavio Lucchini (Brazil), -57.587 23. Garet Tomlinson (USA), -58.002

(Provisional Championship Point Standings (after 6 of 10 races, best 9 count):

1. Solis, 120 points 2. Mercado, 97 3. Hayden Gillim, 77 4. TIE, Gagne/Puerta, 62 6. Pascarella, 55 7. DeHaven, 53 8. Wilson, 40 9. Connor, 39 10. TIE, Prince/Gish, 27

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:

Bull’s Eye In The Buckeye State For Hayden Gillim

Lexington, Ohio (Aug 3, 2008) — Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky., won his first Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race at Mid-Ohio on Sunday. Gillim led every one of the 16 laps to take a runaway win by 3.301 seconds at the finish line. A five-rider pack fought for the runner-up spot, with points leader Benny Solis of North Hollywood, Calif., finishing second and Leandro Mercado of Argentina earning third place.

Gillim, who won pole for the sixth Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race of the year on Saturday, jumped ahead at the start and had a lead of more than one second by the end of the first lap. Hayden, 13 years old, was never challenged. By lap 13, he had pushed ahead to a 5.6-second lead in a race and looked unbeatable. Gillim won the first- place trophy, a “#1” made by artist Bill Secunda from a Rookies Cup chain used earlier in the season.

Hayden was more than a second in front in qualifying, and thought he could get away from the others in the race if he did not lose positions in the beginning. “I was just hoping to get a good start. I was second going into the corner but I got around Benny. From there, I was just trying to go smart and be consistent. I got a good lead and ran a strong pace, and in the end I was able to win this one. I was on pole at Road America and in the lead, but I crashed out. I tried not to think about it today once I got out in the lead. I was focused and I really like this track a lot. It feels great to get a win and it’s something I am really proud of. I’d like to thank everyone who helped me.”

Solis and Mercado emerged on top of the five-rider battle for second. Joining them in the dogfight were Jake Gagne of Ramona, Calif., Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., and Tomas Puerta of Colombia. This group of Rookies even went five-wide into Mid-Ohio’s turn six on one lap, thrilling the spectators in that area of the track.

Benny earned his fifth podium of the year at Mid-Ohio. “I wasn’t able to keep up with Hayden but I was really happy to get more points and keep the points lead,” said the 13-year-old. “Leandro and I had a good battle and there were some other riders up there with us, too. Leandro had some stronger spots on the track than me and I was quicker in some others. In the end, it just about evened out. I had a lot of fun.”

Mercado has challenged for the win in each race and this was the first event in 2008 that he did not lead at some point. Still, Leandro managed to come back from fifth place on lap one to battle with Solis. The 16-year-old was just 0.467 behind Solis. “I got a bad start and the pace was very fast,” said Mercado. “I made a suspension change this morning and wasn’t sure how it would affect things. We had a very competitive race and it was good to rise up through the pack and finish on the podium at a track I did not know very well.”

Gagne finished fourth. The 14-year-old rode his trademarked race with calculating strategy as he moved up to spots on the final laps. He was able to make it by the very aggressive Joey Pascarella, who made a strong move on Mercado for third place on the penultimate lap. Tomas Puerta ran yet another strong contest and held third position for the early laps. The Colombian eventually took sixth place.

Austin DeHaven (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Emerson Connor (Burlington, Ont.) had a spirited fight for seventh place. The two riders, both of whom have finished on the podium this season, finished within 0.6 seconds at the line, with DeHaven crossing the line first.

Another two-rider pack rounded out the top ten. Jake Morman of Loganville, Ga., and Cameron Gish of Shingle Springs, Calif., both earned solid results. Gish is now tied for tenth in the points standings — important because only the top ten racers will compete in the Riders Cup races at Indianapolis and Valencia later this season.

Importantly, none of the Rookies crashed or had mechanical failures this weekend, as the crew and riders did an excellent job at Mid-Ohio.

The next Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race will be held at VIR Aug 17th.

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Results from Mid-Ohio

1. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 2. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 3. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 4. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 5. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 6. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 7. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 8. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 9. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 10. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 11. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 12. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 13. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 14. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 15. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 16. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 17. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 18. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 19. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 20. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 21. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 22. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 23. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Points (after six races)

1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 120 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