Two races, two winners. After finishing second at Mugello and Assen, Pedro Acosta wins for the first time. The Japanese Yuki Kunii, who won the first race of the year at Jerez, returned to the top step of the podium during the second race at the Sachsenring, despite his injured wrist.
QUALIFICATIONS
It's Japanese Yuki Kunii who won during qualifying for the fourth stage of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Carlos Tatay is placed in second position and Haruki Noguchi completes this first line of the Sachsenring.
« It's great to be on pole » exclaims Yuki Kunii. " It's just a quick ride but it's definitely satisfying. The bike works really well and I enjoy riding in these conditions. I know that races are always complicated, and after a few laps my wrist loses power. I'll do what I can, but it's already a very good start to the weekend."
On the French side, Lorenzo Fellon qualifies in ninth position, Gabin Planques eleventh and Clement Rougé fourteenth.
RACE 1
Peter Acosta wins the first race at the Sachsenring following the accident of Nicholas Hernandez which caused the race to be stopped. The Spaniard was fighting for victory, within a group of eight drivers, each of whom could win the race. Finally, it is Yuki Kunii who took second place after having achieved pole position during qualifying. The leader of the championship, Carlos Tatay, closes the top 3.
« Yesterday, during qualifying, I crashed and therefore didn't manage to set a good time. », expresses Peter Acosta who started from tenth position on the starting grid. “However, I felt comfortable during the race and had a very good start. Then I calmed down a bit because I didn't want to repeat the same mistake as in Assen. In the middle of the race I came out of a corner very well and with the excellent grip I had I went first. Then the red flag came out and I won the race. I'm really happy to win my first race in the Rookies Cup! »
« My wrist didn't hurt too much during the race but now that it's over it's throbbing a lot.. ”, pronounces Yuki Kunii. “ The bike was excellent and I really enjoyed the race. I was confident thanks to the pole I achieved yesterday and I had a plan for the end of the race, but unfortunately I was not able to achieve it. I can't wait until tomorrow for the second race."
« It's not Christmas every day »Says Carlos Tatay. " I'm happy despite everything, the bike is excellent, the tires seem not to have been too damaged. I won't change anything about my strategy for tomorrow's race. This third place is a good result."
Lorenzo Fellon concludes the race with a nice fifth position and Gabin Planques finished twelfth, just ahead Clement Rougé.
Lorenzo Fellon: “I had a good start and the first few laps were good for me to get into the lead battle. Lots of overtaking. I have to thank Santi (Suspension Engineer Santiago Morralla) because he made some modifications to the bike that made it much more stable in the corners and gave me more confidence. I have to apologize to David (Salvador) because I touched him, of course I didn't mean to, but it happens, I apologize to him. »
RACE 2
It was in a sensational final lap and thanks to a clean and efficient overtaking that Yuki Kunii took victory ahead of Carlos Tatay et Max Cook. The championship leader, who nevertheless had a slight advantage with three laps remaining over the Japanese, saw himself caught by the latter before being dropped off at the finish line. Billy Van Eerde crossed the line in third position but was given a three-place penalty for gaining an advantage by going off the track. The Australian now in sixth place is the Briton Max Cook who gets on the podium.
« I am so happy ! " smiles Yuki Kunii. " When Carlos Tatay passed me, I made a mistake and he escaped. Then I attacked to try to catch him and, in the end, I succeeded. I don't think he realized how close I was when I passed him. I feel really good and it's great to win again. My wrist was hurting a lot at the end of the race, but I did everything I could to not think about it and stay focused on my goal: Victory.."
« I saw on the big television screens that Yuki Kunii came back quickly » exclaims Carlos Tatay. « When he took the lead in the race, II thought about overtaking him on the last corner but when I thought about it, I said to myself that it wasn't a good idea. He rode very well and I managed to beat him several times in previous races, but this time he was the one who beat me. It's not a big deal, but I'll have to do better in the next race ».
« It's really hard for Billy Van Eerde, he's a great friend and I'm sad for him Says Max Cook. " This podium is what I wanted since I entered this championship. I took a big step forward in Assen and another here. I was in the front group thinking about where I could have an advantage and I used that on the last lap. I am very happy ! Now I want to win ».
Jason dupasquier, the 17-year-old Swiss, took a good fifth place. “It's pretty good, but I'm giving myself a lot of work because I think I'm having the worst starts of anyone at the Rookies Cup. If I can qualify well and get a good start, I think I can at least get on the podium. At least I know the problem and that’s what I’m going to work on before the next race.”
In the general classification, Carlos Tatay remains a solid leader with 156 points to his credit. Behind him, Yuki Kunii takes second place with 109 points. Peter Acosta and his 79 points close the top 3.
For our little French people, Lorenzo Fellon finished the race in seventh position and found himself in the same position in the general classification. Gabin Planques placed in eleventh position in this second race and occupies nineteenth place in the championship. As for Clement Rougé, he fell a few laps from the end of the race and found himself fifteenth in the general classification.
