Source: Red Bull.

Stefano Manzi won his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race by totally dominating the 17 laps at Misano.

Joan Mir’s third place behind Manuel Pagliani prevented Jorge Martín clinching the title, but the fellow Spaniard crossed the line fifth and goes into the final two races with a healthy 44-point advantage.

It was Manzi’s day, the 15-year-old Italian who has for two years been able to lead a Rookies Cup race on any lap but the last, this time lead every lap.

So often embroiled in a six or eight man battle for the lead from which he emerged third on six occasions this year and once second, Manzi jumped from P9 on the grid, scythed through the pack and disappeared, opening up as much as a three-second lead.

Left behind was fellow Italian Pagliani, the 18-year-old who had robbed him on the line at Misano twelve months ago. Pagliani was hounded by 17-year-old Mir who had elbowed points leader Martín aside early on, something that did not impress the 16-year-old Cup leader at all.

Mir was on a mission to keep his Cup hopes alive and that meant finishing in front of Martín. In the attempt he made a couple of mistakes and that allowed Pagliani to get away into a clear second, at also allowed Fabio di Giannantonio, Brad Ray and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to catch up.

Mir had the pace to get clear of them and chase after Pagliani but Martín was immersed in a great four man battle for fourth that went all the way to the line with Razgatlıoğlu crossing it first.

Australian Olly Simpson scored a single point in 15th, 45.190s behind eventual first-time winner Manzi.

2014 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Round seven – Misano, Italy

Race results:
1. Stefano MANZI
2. Manuel PAGLIANI
3. Joan MIR
4. Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU
5. Jorge MARTIN
6. Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
7. Bradley RAY
8. Bo BENDSNEYDER
9. Oscar GUTIERREZ
10. Enzo BOULOM
15. Olly SIMPSON (AUS)

Championship standings:
1. Jorge MARTIN
2. Joan MIR
3. Stefano MANZI
4. Bradley RAY
5. Manuel PAGLIANI
6. Soushi MIHARA
7. Fabi DI GIANNANTONIO
8 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU
9. Bo BENDSNEYDER
10. Marc GARCIA
11. Olly SIMPSON (AUS)

Click here for detailed results