The first round of the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup took place alongside the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
We can no longer count the MotoGP riders who come from this promotion formula, starting with a John Zarco winner of the first edition, and it is for this reason that we always have an eye on the young hopefuls who are lucky enough to have been selected.
As is often the case in small displacements (the race is contested with single-cylinder KTM 250s), it was in the last lap that the victory of the first race between the Japanese repeaters was decided. Yuki Kunii, Spanish Carlos Tatay and Belgian Barry Baltus. From pole position, Kunii, 16, found himself in a fight with 6 opponents but completed a perfect final lap to cross the finish line in the lead.
Although the podium finally clearly emerged during the last three laps between these 3 drivers ahead of the Spaniard david savior, the fight also included the French debutants Lorenzo Fellon, Japanese Haruki Noguchi and Switzerland Jason Dupasquier until mid-race, before the greater experience of their opponents made the difference.
Slightly further in the ranking (9th) but further away in time, Clement Rougé obtains a promising top 10 for his first race in the category, while Gabin Planques, the last Frenchman selected, appears in 17th position.
Yuki Kunii won at Mugello last season before being injured in a race that wasn't a Rookies Cup race but nonetheless ruined his season. But after an excellent pre-season test and almost perfect practice and qualifying sessions on Friday, the Japanese entered the race relatively confident: “Honestly, the race was a little harder than I expected. The other riders got a good start and it was a big group in the first laps, everyone was pushing very hard. Halfway through the race, I realized that I had a good pace and that the group was not keeping up. Tatay was still riding very hard and pushed very hard until the end. I’m happy, it’s a great way to start the season and the bike was great.”
Carlos Tatay : “I'm happy to finish and take second place, it was a very tough fight until the end. There were a lot of overtakes every lap, Yuki was a little stronger than me today. My bike was good, I won’t change anything, I’ll just work on myself.”
Barry Baltus : “At the end, I chose the wrong speed. I went inside to overtake Tatay and chase Kunii, I engaged 3rd gear but I was on a tight line. Tatay was in 2nd gear and got away from me when accelerating. It was still a good race, it was good to fight at the front. I couldn't escape, I knew I had to stay second or third and make the effort on the last lap, but I made a mistake on the last lap and had to push really hard to catch them. I succeeded but the poor speed cost me dearly. But the bike is good, no need to change anything.”
Laurent Fellon, 14, was frankly surprised by his fifth place: “Honestly, I didn't expect to be at the front. I enjoyed the race, I hope we can improve the settings a little for tomorrow because I was lacking rear grip in the last five laps, but I'm happy with it and I learned a lot.”
We take the same and start again ! The same trio composed of Carlos Tatay, Yuki Kunii et Barry Baltus, who dominated on Saturday, produced another demonstration for 16 laps during Race 2 of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Jerez.
This time, it was the Spaniard Tatay who crossed the finish line in front of the Japanese Kunii while the Belgian Baltus fell in the last lap.
Italian Matthew Bertelli, 15, climbed to the third step of the podium after the Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon, 14 years old, was penalized 3 seconds for exceeding the limits of the track. We remember that this had already caused him problems during the first race of the European Talent Cup in Valencia…
Jason dupasquier therefore inherits 4th place while things were a little more difficult for Clement Rougé in this second race following an average start.
Yuki Kunii: " Almost perfect. Yes, today I felt that the bike was sliding a little more than yesterday, the track temperature was a little warmer and in the middle of the race I felt like I was a little more at ease. limit than yesterday. I didn't have that little extra to push. On the last lap I tried to overtake Tatay, but I knew he would defend well and he did. The next race is at Mugello and I’m feeling really good there so I’m looking forward to it.”
Lorenzo Fellon, very disappointed after crossing the finish line in third position, but being sanctioned with a penalty. “It was tough, I know I had exceeded the limits of the track, but last time it was the last corner and the bike was sliding, I couldn't stop it.”
Barry Baltus : “I attacked with two laps to go. I knew I had to escape so they couldn't vacuum me. I managed that for the last two laps. On the last lap I was ahead on the back straight, I wanted to go left for the next corner, I didn't realize Carlos was there, and I hit him. It was a big, quick fall, I’m lucky I’m not hurt.”
Championship ranking:
