Mir wins Red Bull Rookies race two as Martín crashes out
Olly Simpson places just outside the top 10 at Brno.
Source: Red Bull.
An eight-rider battle for the lead all the way to the final lap only produced a winner at the final corners as Joan Mir snatched victory from Fabio Di Giannantonio with Stefano Manzi chasing them across the line.
It was the second win of the season for 16-year-old Spaniard Mir but the first time on the podium for Italian 15-year-old Di Giannantonio who’s previous best was fifth in race one at the Sachsenring. Italian 15-year-old Manzi seems stuck in second or third.
Cup points leader Jorge Martín crashed out of the middle of the lead group starting the last lap when he came together with Assen winner Bo Bendsneyder at the first corner. Both the 16-year-old Spaniard and the 15-year-old Dutchman were unhurt.
“I did a lot of leading but I could not get away,” Mir said. “The guys were all fast and overtaking everywhere. The bike wasn’t perfect but still great for the race and we were all very even, I didn’t know if I could win it but I got a great run up the hill on the last lap and I knew what I had to do, it was close but it worked.”
Martín started the race with a 55 point advantage over Mir and Soushi Mihara, but Mir’s victory cut that to 30 with 125 still on offer from the remaining five races.
“It could have been worse but I didn’t need that,” Martín said. “I feel that I was able to get on the podium at least. The bike wasn’t working well, we really struggled through practice but I was just picking the places to pass and trying to stay out of trouble.”
With so many points remaining to be won Mir still has thoughts of the title: “Why not? I will keep trying to win every weekend and there is a real chance, the racing is so close and anything can happen.”
Australian Olly Simpson was 11th on Sunday, also sitting in that same position for the championship following nine races.
The next two races are at Silverstone, the British Grand Prix on 30-31 August.
2014 Red Bull Rookies Cup
Round nine – Brno, Czech Republic
Race two results:
1. Joan MIR
2. Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
3. Stefano MANZI
4. Bradley RAY
5. Marc GARCIA
6. Enzo BOULOM
7. Aris MICHAIL
8. Jaume MASIA
9. Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU
10. Oscar GUTIERREZ
11. Olly SIMPSON (AUS)
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