“It’s a dream come true,” said Sissis. “This has been the best year of my life. I have learnt so much in the Rookies Cup. I was a speedway rider before and learnt everything about road racing in the Cup. I know that racing in the GP class is a new challenge but I’m ready for it.”

Sissis finished 2nd in the 2011 Cup behind Lorenzo Baldassarri. The 15 year old Italian is too young to race in GPs and will stay in the Rookies Cup for 2012. His year, along with the other 23 Rookies, starts with the pre season test at Estoril in Portugal on April 2nd with the first contest of the 15 race season at Jerez on April 28th.

The 24 Rookies represent 14 nations from across the globe, from Japan and South Africa, the breadth of Europe to the United States of America. They will race at 8 Grands Prix across Europe in 15 races and been seen around the world on more than 50 TV stations. The best rider at the end of the season is guaranteed a place in the factory KTM Moto3 team for 2013.

2012 Provisional Calendar*

Pre Season Test
April 2,3,5 – Estoril, Portugal

Races
April 28th / 29th – Jerez,Spain [races 1+2]
May 5th / 6th – Estoril, Portugal [races 3+4]
June 16th / 17th – Silverstone, United Kingdom [races 5+6]
June 29th / 30th – Assen, Netherlands [races 7+8]
July 7th / 8th – Sachsenring, Germany [races 9+10]
August 25th / 26th – Brno, Czech Republic [races 11+12]
September 15th – Misano, Republic of San Marino [race 13]
September 29th / 30th – Aragon, Spain [races 14+15]

* subject to changes in MotoGP calendar

Provisional Entry List

3 Diego Perez (ESP)
5 Philipp Oettl (GER)
6 María Herrera (ESP)
7 Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA)
8 Hafiq Azmi (MAS)
11 Livio Loi (BEL)
18 Aaron Espana (ESP)
21 Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
25 Willi Albert (GER)
27 Joe Roberts (USA)
28 Bradley Ray (GBR)
29 Stefano Manzi (ITA)
34 Jordan Weaving (RSA)
46 Yui Watanabe (JPN)
47 Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
50 Lukas Trautmann (AUT)
66 Florian Alt (GER)
75 Ivo Lopes (POR)
77 Kyle Ryde (GBR)
88 Jorge Martín (ESP)
89 Alan Techer (FRA)
94 Simon Danilo (FRA)
95 Scott Deroue (NED)
98 Karel Hanika (CZE)

Source: Red Bull Rookies

The format from the first two days was repeated and groups of seven or eight riders each had a 15 minute session in the morning and another in the afternoon to show their abilities to the judging panel. After the panel had deliberated the invitation list was read out to the tense and expectant assembly.

Youngster Bradley Ray was the only British rider who made it through the selection process and he will join fellow Brit Kyle Ride on the Rookies grid next season.

Invited from Aragon
Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
Simon Danilo (FRA)
Karel Hanika (CZE)
María Herrera (ESP)
Livio Loi (BEL)
Stefano Manzi (ITA)
Jorge Martín (ESP)
Diego Perez (ESP)
Bradley Ray (GBR)
Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
Jordan Weaving (RSA)

2012 Provisional Entry List
Willi Albert (GER)
Florian Alt (GER)
Hafiq Azmi (MAS)
Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA)
Nicolò Castellini (ITA)
Simon Danilo (FRA)
Scott Deroue (NED)
Aaron Espana (ESP)
Josep Garcia (ESP)
Karel Hanika (CZE)
María Herrera (ESP)
Livio Loi (BEL)
Ivo Lopes (POR)
Stefano Manzi (ITA)
Jorge Martín (ESP)
Philipp Oettl (GER)
Diego Perez (ESP)
Bradley Ray (GBR)
Joe Roberts (USA)
Kyle Ryde (GBR)
Filippo Scalbi (ITA)
Alan Techer (FRA)
Lukas Trautmann (AUT)
Yui Watanabe (JPN)
Jordan Weaving (RSA)

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Once again the Selection Event allows those invited from the online applicants to show their skills on track in front of the panel of experts. Over 100 riders will each get 2 sessions during a day of testing on identical machines and around half are then asked to attend a 2nd day when they again show their skills so that the panel can decide on the small group of up to 15 that will be invited to join the Rookies Cup in 2012.

It is a very tough selection process, half the riders get their first chance on Monday October 10th with the 2nd half going on track on Tuesday. Those selected from the 1st 2 days are then asked to remain for the final selection on Wednesday October 12th.

The list of those who are invited to join the 2012 cup will be published shortly after as will the list of those riders retained from this year’s Cup. The entry for 2012 is likely to be 24. The online entry has been even larger this year as the Cup continues to gain strength and international coverage as the prime entry point for the World Championship. A point emphasised by Johann Zarco’s victory in the Grand Prix of Japan. Zarco was the first Rookies Cup champion in 2007. More than 50 TV stations around the world carried the 2011 Rookies Cup.

Invited applicants:

• Matthew Barton, Australia
• Matthew Davies, Australia
• Remy Gardner, Australia
• Olly Simpson, Australia
• Corey Turner, Australia
• Loris Cresson, Belgium
• Livio Loi, Belgium
• Michel Velludo, Brazil
• Charly Vu, Canada
• Karel Hanika, Czech Republic
• Emil Sachmann, Denmark
• Eemeli Lahti, Finland
• Niki Tuuli, Finland
• Robin Anne, France
• Enzo Boulom, France
• Hugo Casadesus, France
• Renald Castillon Gioanni, France
• Jules Danilo, France
• Simon Danilo, France
• Thibaut Gourin, France
• Julian Loison, France
• Corentin Perolari, France
• Guillaume Raymond, France
• Johan Rousseau, France
• Jean-Luca Amato, Germany
• Christoph Beinlich, Germany
• Jonas Geitner, Germany
• Michael Gerstacker, Germany
• Klaus Heidel, Germany
• Maximilian Kappler, Germany
• Alexander Knaf, Germany
• Nicolai Kraft, Germany
• Max Maurischat, Germany
• Aris Michail, Germany
• Maurice Ullrich, Germany
• Richard Bodis, Hungary
• Eko Prasetianto, Indonesia
• Imanuel Pratna, Indonesia
• Andrea Caravella, Italy
• Nicolò Castellini, Italy
• Bryan D’Onofrio, Italy
• Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Italy
• Alessandro Delbianco, Italy
• Federico Fuligni, Italy
• Simone Gironi, Italy
• Christopher Gobbi, Italy
• Stefano Manzi, Italy
• Alessandro Nocco, Italy
• Filippo Scalbi, Italy
• Elia Veronesi, Italy
• Watanabe Yui, Japan
• Richie Escalante, Mexico
• Robert Schotman, Netherlands
• Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands
• Marcel ter Braake, Netherlands
• Jake Lewis, New Zealand
• Torgeir Horne, Norway
• Stinius Viking Odegard, Norway
• David Ferreira, Portugal
• Darryn Binder, South Africa
• Themba Khumalo, South Africa
• Jordan Weaving, South Africa
• Michael White, South Africa
• Eduardo Alayón Reverón, Spain
• Albert Arenas, Spain
• Bernat Crespí, Jiménez Spain
• Illan Fernandez, Spain
• Héctor Garzó Vicent, Spain
• María Herrera Muñoz, Spain
• Jorge Martín Almoguera, Spain
• Joan Mir Perello, Spain
• Miquel Pons Payeras, Spain
• Marcos Ramirez Fernandez, Spain
• Daniel Saez Gutierrez, Spain
• David Sanchis, Spain
• Alex Sirerol Mayor, Spain
• Diego Perez Zuasti, Spain
• Linus Harrysson, Sweden
• Jesper Pellijeff, Sweden
• Sébastien Fraga, Switzerland
• Stéphane Frossard, Switzerland
• Adrien Pittet, Switzerland
• Max Alexander, United Kingdom
• Jake Bayford, United Kingdom
• Oliver Brocklesby, United Kingdom
• Asher Durham, United Kingdom
• Oliver Fitzpatrick, United Kingdom
• Charlie Foster, United Kingdom
• Joe Francis, United Kingdom
• Adam Gidley, United Kingdom
• Harry Hartley, United Kingdom
• Luke Hedger, United Kingdom
• Tarran Mackenzie, United Kingdom
• Jake Mason, United Kingdom
• Adam McLean, United Kingdom
• Bradley Ray, United Kingdom
• George Stanley, United Kingdom
• Oliver Taylor, United Kingdom
• Ryan Watson, United Kingdom
• Anthony Alonso, USA
• Mario Alvarez II, USA
• Alex Caldwell Wisdom, USA
• Eziah Davis, USA
• Max Flinders, USA
• Alexander Guerrierie, USA
• Ian Tetrick, USA
• Xavier Zayat, USA

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

Only Arthur Sissis could challenge Baldassarri for the Cup going into the final event and for most of the race the 16 year old Australian was in the midst of the 4 man battle for the lead. He might well have taken overall victory in the race and the Cup but for running off the track on lap 14 when battling shoulder to shoulder with Baldassarri for the lead through the flat out right kink down the back straight.

Off onto the wide tarmac apron Sissis regained the track back in 6th place behind Alan Techer and Tomas Vavrous. His task was almost hopeless then as he needed to catch back the 2.5 seconds to Baldassarri and get 2 places ahead of him with just 3 laps remaining. Sissis had no thoughts of giving up though and set his fastest lap of the race on his way to 4th, a great effort, just not enough for the Cup.

Over the last lap Baldassarri let the Germans fight it out for the win as he saw the advantage he had. “It was a great race,” said Baldassarri. “Such a tough fight with Arthur, Philipp and Flo’ we were braking so hard and so late and pushing hard, on the limit, through every corner, the hardest race of the year. Then on the last lap I looked back and I could see that Arthur wasn’t close, I knew I just had to finish 3rd to take the Cup.”

It was all on between Oettl and Alt with pole man Alt leading onto the final lap but that changed. “Philipp passed me out of the slipstream and there was nothing I could do about it,” explained Alt. “I did everything I could to get back in front but there was no chance. Coming out of the last corner, I was flat out, head down and the suddenly, I don’t know why, he slowed and I was past. I won and that makes me happy however it happened.”

“I’ve nothing to say, the race was fine until the last few metres….” said Oettl, refusing to say that it was a premature celebration that cost him the win, shaking his fist in triumph well before the finish line and easing off enough for Alt to get past.”

He wasn’t the only disappointed Rookie of course as Sissis had to accept that the Cup, the winner’s KTM Duke 125, was in the hands of the Italian. “The race was all going OK, we were having a great battle then I just made that one mistake. We were fighting for the lead and I tried to get back around him, he just moved over and I was off the track. I tried, I rode as hard as I could to get back but I just couldn’t make it. Still it’s been a great year, the best year of my life.”

Chasing Sissis across the line was Vavrous followed by Techer who already had 3rd in the Cup secure before the last race. Vavrous enjoyed his final Rookies Cup ride, “A Brilliant start, I never had a start like this. I was in the lead group, then on the 5th lap a high-side. I stayed on the bike but was passed by a lot of guys and then I had too much work to get back. It was a nice race and I had fun.”

In all 8 different riders won at least one of the 14 races with 16 of the 24 riders finishing on the podium during the season. Baldassarri won 2 races, was on the podium 6 times and scored in every race while Sissis had 4 wins and was 2nd 3 times but also fell twice and had one none scoring result due to a mechanical problem.

The Selection Event for the 2012 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is on October 10th, 11th and 12th where between 10 and 15 riders will be invited to join the 10 to 15 who remain in the Rookies Cup from this season. The 2012 Entry List will be announced in late October.

Race Classification
1. Florian Alt (GER) 30 minutes 47.995 seconds
2. Philipp Oettl (GER) +0.015
3. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.633
4. Arthur Sissis (AUS) +3.226
5. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +3.273
6. Alan Techer (FRA) +3.325
7. Kyle Ryle (GBR) +3.367
8. Ivo Lopes (POR) +4.063
9. Stefano Valtulini (ITA) +4.540
10. Josep Garcia (ESP) +12.363

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

Alt also sat on pole at the previous round in the Czech Republic but was disappointed with his 11th and 8th place finishes there. “This time I want to win,” he said with a grin. “A podium is the absolute minimum. We changed some things on the bike after free practice, improved the front suspension a bit by making it harder and then the bike was good. I think I can run that sort of pace in the race, over the last 3 or 4 laps I was on my own and I ran pretty good times so the race should be OK.”

Alongside him on the grid is 16 year old Frenchman Alan Techer, winner of 2 of the last 3 races but he might count himself a little fortunate to be there after crashing on the last lap and being taken to the medical centre for a check up. Techer knows he has 3rd in the Cup secure no matter what happens in the race. That fall didn’t help Cup hopeful Sissis. “I was following him when he crashed,” said the 16 year old Australian who trails Baldassarri by 6 points going into the final race. “It’s a tough track, a lot of hard braking. I wasn’t doing that well but I got a bit quicker following Alan towards the end. It’s interesting that Baldi and I are beside each other on the grid, real interesting. I want to win, it’s the last Rookies race of the year, but it isn’t going to be easy.”

Baldassarri, the 15 year old Italian, also found qualifying tough. “I could have done better, the bike was OK it was just me and not finding the right space on the track. I wanted someone good to ride with and in the last few laps I got with Philipp (Oettl) but that didn’t really work out either. I think the race should be better, I will just try to get a good result but if I am in difficulty I will be looking to see where Arthur is.”

Completing the front row of the grid, 14 year old Briton Kyle Ryde had by far his best qualifying of the season. “I’ve at last got the bike working for me, the forks are stiffer and with more rebound so the bike turns in faster and I am really enjoying it, can’t wait for the race tomorrow.”

Heading the 2nd row of the grid, 18 year old Czech Tomas Vavrous was a little frustrated. “It was OK but I was losing a lot of time in the second half of the lap, about a second and I don’t know where. I hope I can find it in the race, I will try to go with the other guys.”

Philipp Oettl, the 15 year old German, was even more frustrated with 5th. “I didn’t make good use of the new tyre, I should have done better. Towards the end I was with Baldassarri but we were just getting in each other’s way a bit so that didn’t help. The race is a different thing, I know what I have got to do.”

It will all be decided in a single race on Saturday afternoon starting at 16.30 CET. It is broadcast on TV networks around the world and webcast on www.redbull.tv with the show beginning 10 minutes before race start.

Qualifying Classification
1. Florian Alt (GER) 1 minute 47.247 seconds
2. Alan Techer (FRA) +0.312
3. Kyle Ryde (GBR) +0.510
4. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +0.561
5. Philipp Oettl (GER) +0.580
6. Ivo Lopes (POR) +0.744
7. Arthur Sissis (AUS) +0.894
8. Lorenzp Baldassarri (ITA) +0.943
9. Max Enderlein (GER) +1.110
10. James Flitcroft (GBR) +1.198

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

Italian Baldassarri, who only turned 15 at the beginning of August, has avoided errors and bad luck but knows that victory is far from assured as Sissis, the 16 year old Australian, is still an extremely strong threat.

There is no way that Baldassarri can count on finishing 2nd to Sissis and thus claiming the title. Earlier in the year it looked like the pair were standing above the others as the strongest riders but in the last few races they have been caught and any one of 10 or 12 could win the final round. Indeed there have already been 7 different winners this season and 16 of the 24 in the field have finished on the podium at some time during the year.

Last year’s final at Misano was a classic with Danny Kent trying to orchestrate the race to his advantage to overcome a similar points gap to Jake Gagne. Kent was brilliant but it wasn’t enough and Gagne took the Cup.

Sissis is likely to be less subtle and just go out determined to win, letting things unfold behind him as they may. Victory for Sissis not assured of course and Baldassarri will have his eye on a home win but the pair will also be under tremendous pressure from the likes of Florian Alt who was on pole in Brno and won the German Championship round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria the following weekend. It was the 15 year old German’s first IDM victory and he is still looking for his first win in Rookies Cup though he has been on the podium twice and is arguably the fastest teen without the ultimate glory.

Someone who will disagree with that is 18 year old Czech Tomas Vavrous, his form is just as strong, being the only rider to be on both podium’s at Brno. He has put his early season errors behind him now and is as capable of winning the final race as anyone. It could just as easily be a complete shock win like Joe Roberts in the 1st race at Brno. The 14 year old American had only once previously finished in the top 10, when he was 9th in the 2nd race of the year. He proved that the switch in form was not a fluke due to the rain though by smashing the lap record in the dry during the 2nd race at Brno.

Looking at more established form would direct you to Alan Techer, 2 wins from the last 3 races for the 16 year old Frenchman and he is a great competitor. It is the last chance for everyone so no one but Sissis and Baldassarri will be thinking of their situation, it is every man for himself.

There is just a single race at Misano, on Saturday September 3rd at 16.30 CET. It can be seen on TV stations around the world and is webcast live on www.redbull.tv with the show starting 10 minutes before the race.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

With the timing monitor showing 19 riders vying for the lead it was as intense as physically possible. Too intense at times with riders and machines touching as they battled for position. Spanish 15 year old Xavi Pinsach crashed spectacularly out of the lead group when another rider inadvertently nudged his brake leaver, he was not seriously hurt.

“It was the most incredible race,” said Techer. “So close, we were touching at almost every corner. I didn’t get a good start and I just had to fight my way through. Then in the last three laps it was a battle between myself, Tomas, Scott and Arthur. We thought he had got away on the last lap but he crashed and it was between the three of us at the last corner. I opened the gas as early as I could through the last corner, I had a bit of a slide but I hung on and won.”

“An incredible weekend,” he added. “I was so upset yesterday after Lukas (Trautmann) and I collided and I crashed that I was determined to do something good today. It was such a tough race, hot and hard, so great to win.”

It was the last corner battle on the penultimate lap that set up victory for Sissis following an incredible 13 laps where no one had any kind of an advantage. As Deroue and the others got a little tangled Sissis was gifted a half second lead and the momentum going onto the 14th and final lap.

Sissis put his head down and never looked back, normally the perfect thing to do. This time a glance over his shoulder with half a lap to go would have revealed that he had opened that advantage to almost a second as the others fought over every section of tarmac. Changing direction for the final time to get the drive up the hill to the finish he was too hard on the throttle, the rear came round and he was off.

Deroue had done most of the leading in the closing stages but a couple of mistakes on the last lap cost him. “The first mistake was that at the first corner on the last lap I changed up 2 gears and the engine bogged, I was furious with myself and had to fight back to the front. I got back into the lead up the hill into the last corner battling with Alan and Tomas but went through the last corner in 3rd instead of 2nd and again the engine struggled so I lost the win and got 3rd.”

It was Vavrous who grabbed more points from the weekend than anyone else with a 3rd and a 2nd. “I thought yesterday was my toughest ever Rookies race but this was even tougher. There was no planning, no tactics, it was just race as hard as you can at every corner, we were touching everywhere. On the last lap I was determined not to crash but I was also determined to get on the podium.

James Flitcroft, the 15 year old Briton and 15 year old Italian Stefano Valtulini both had great rides to finish 4th and 5th ahead of Cup leader Baldassarri who gained so much from the Sissis crash. “I didn’t look back,” said Sissis. “Everyone tells me off if I do. I didn’t know I was way in front like that, I so wanted to win the race, I tried,” he concluded with a shrug. “Now my dad is going to say that I’ve given that KTM bike away,” laughed the Australian referring to the winner’s spoils at the end of the season. The final race of the year is at Misano on September 3rd.

Race 2 Classification

1. Alan Techer (FRA) 31 minutes 25.716 seconds
2. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +0.034
3. Scott Deroue (NED) +0.203
4. James Flitcroft (GBR) +0.520
5. Stefano Valtulini (ITA) +0.603
6. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.638
7. Ivo Lopes (POR) +0.802
8. Florian Alt (GER) +0.849
9. Philipp Oettl (GER) +0.963
10. Brad Binder (RSA) +1.023

The drama of Roberts’ victory could not be bettered, he took the lead on the soaking wet track on lap 3 and charged away. It was only Sissis that could go with him and at the final left right section before the finish Sissis passed for the lead only to go wide allowing Roberts to tuck inside and win.

With 2nd, Sissis takes the Cup lead from Baldassarri by 4 points as the Italian 15 year old struggled at the back of the lead group and could only claim 6th at the flag. It might have been worse but Lukas Trautmann, the 15 year old Austrian and 15 year old Briton James Flitcroft who had both led the race early on crashed together with just a few corners to go.

It was not only Roberts’ first podium in Rookies Cup but it turned the weekend around for him completely. “I was enjoying the track but qualifying didn’t go that well and I was only 17th on the grid. The first race, I don’t even want to think about it, I got passed and couldn’t get into a rhythm, I was last. That put me at the back of the grid for the restart. I wasn’t happy that it rained but then on the sighting lap I realised that there was quite a lot of grip. I just had to go for it, I didn’t want to be last any more.”

“I was at the back of the grid but I just went past everyone at the first corner, I think I was about 6th coming out. Then I just kept passing guys until I was 2nd and behind James. Then he ran wide and that was it I just kept going. Arthur passed me at the last corner but as I saw him go wide I had the chance to cut it tight and go for the line.”

“We’ve got another race tomorrow, we’ve had so many wet races this year and all the time I’ve been wanting it to be dry all year, now I guess I am hoping for another wet race,” Roberts concluded with his classic broad grin.

Sissis was not thrilled to be 2nd but much happier when he heard that he had the Cup lead back. “I couldn’t believe the way that Joe went, he was so fast. I didn’t think that I could go with him but I tried. I managed just to catch him at the last corner but then went wide, good on him, it was a great ride.”

Vavrous had been feeling the pressure of racing at home and was thrilled to get on the podium. “It was a big battle both in the dry race and in the rain. Right up to the last lap in the rain we were fighting for 3rd and I just managed to get it, we had a lot of fun, just like always in Rookies Cup.”

Baldassarri was naturally disappointed with the day. “In the first race the bike seemed OK, the suspension was working well but I just couldn’t pass anyone out of the slipstream, they seemed to be able to get by me. In the wet race it was the same, I just struggled to overtake. Then on the last lap James and Lukas crashed in front of me, I had to brake and that was it.”

It is now only Sissis and Baldassarri that can win the Cup, there are two races remaining, the first being on Sunday at 15.30 CET. It can be seen on TV in many countries and is webcast live on www.redbull.tv with the show beginning 10 minutes before race start.

Race Classification
1.Joe Roberts (USA) 12 minutes 41.800 seconds
2.Arthur Sissis (AUS) +0.030
3.Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +1.508
4.Stefano Valtulini (ITA) +1.560
5.Xavier Pinsach (ESP) +3.292
6.Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +4.662
7.Hafiq Azmi (MAS) +7.265
8.Javier Orellana (GBR) +9.453
9.Philipp Oettl (GER) +13.197
10. Kevin Argino (ITA) +13.327

“I was feeling good on the bike, and I just got into the perfect position to pick up the slipstream on that lap and made the best use of it,” explained Alt after his first pole in Rookies Cup. “We had to make a few changes to the rear suspension through practice, both after the free practice this morning and between the qualifying sessions. It’s a good track I really enjoy it.”

Vavrous was happy to repeat the mid front row start that he achieved at the previous round at the Sachsenring. “I was surprised though, normally I know when I have done a good lap but this time I didn’t realise it, it was nice surprise when I saw it on the board. After that though I was making a few too many mistakes. I like the track here but I must say that racing at home isn’t so much fun, there is too much pressure. I hope to be in the top 3 tomorrow but we’ll see.”

At the end of the session Sissis was in serious pain. “My neck hurts from crashing a go-cart two weeks ago in Austria. I had some physio and that made it a lot better but still when I’m tucked down behind the screen and trying to look forward it hurts,” Said Sissis who was fastest in the first qualifying session but was one of the few to not improve in the 2nd period though he did almost match his previous best.

“I tried at the end but my neck was hurting so much I just couldn’t concentrate. I like the track though and the bike improved a lot after the morning session. They changed the front suspension, it was a bit hard to turn in the afternoon but they say that is because of the wind more than anything. It is a lot more fun here than last year, I know how much my riding has improved because I can do a good lap time on my own, last year I would have to follow someone or I would be all over the place.”

His arch rival and Cup leader by 6 points, Lorenzo Baldassarri, sits behind him on the 2nd row after qualifying 5th, a big improvement from 11th in the 1st session. “I am happy with that, I had a problem with the engine in the 1st session as it wouldn’t rev past 13,000 but they changed the gearing for the 2nd session and the rear suspension so it was quite a bit better,” explained the 15 year old Italian. “We changed the rear after this morning but it was too hard for the first qualifying so we had to go back a bit. I took the morning to learn the track and really enjoyed it from the start, very different to the Sachsenring, wider, faster, more fun.”

Alan Techer was thrilled to be ahead of him having qualified 4th with his last lap but it was a painful experience. “I had a slide and hit my right foot on the tarmac, the same foot I hurt quite badly riding at home 2 weeks ago. It was painful then and it is now. The bike is good now though we lowered the front a bit and it holds the line better so I am looking forward to the race even though I might be able to walk much this weekend.”

There are just 3 races remaining the 2011 Rookies Cup, the first being on Saturday at 16.30 CET with Sunday’s race at 15.30. Both can be seen on TV in many countries and are webcast live on www.redbull.tv with the shows beginning 10 minutes before race start.

Qualifying Classification
1. Florian Alt (GER) 2 minutes 13.644 seconds
2. Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +0.004
3. Arthur Sissis (AUS) +0.239
4. Alan Techer (FRA) +0.262
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.364
6. Xavier Pinsach (ESP) +0.370
7. Ivo Lopes (POR) +0.511
8. James Flitcroft (GBR) +0.634
9. Lukas Trautmann (AUT) +0.723
10. Joakim Niemi (FIN) +0.863

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Lorenzo Baldassarri, the Italian who turned 15 last week, heads north from his home in Montecosaro Stazione on the Adriatic coast with a 6 point advantage over Arthur Sissis. The 16 year old Australian had been leading the title chase from the second event in Estoril on only to suffer disaster in the last round in Germany where he scored zero points thanks to a technical failure and a crash in the two races at the Sachsenring.

Baldassarri has scored in every round, has 2 wins to the Australian’s 4 but has been more consistent in the rain. The weather has plagued so much of this season though Sissis improved his wet weather showing following his mediocre performances in the dismal Silverstone races.

So the pair come into the last 3 races of the season with no clear advantage separating them. Sissis knows Brno well as it is his 3rd year in the cup and Baldassarri has a another track to learn but that has seemed to cause him few problems this season. Sissis did not have much luck at Brno last year with a technical problem in Race 1 and an 11th in Race 2. He was running with the front group early on in that 2nd race until he made a mistake and has also improved immeasurably this season.

Of this year’s Rookies who competed in Brno last season by far the most successful was 16 year old South African Brad Binder. He was 7th in Race 1 and 4th in Race 2. It was those kinds of results that made him the favourite at the start of this year. But for a few mistakes and his dislike of racing in the rain he would now be fighting with Baldassarri and Sissis for the Cup. As it is he is 5th and cannot win the Cup overall but has every chance of winning some of the remaining races.

Alan Techer and Philipp Oettl are 3rd and 4th respectively and both have a mathematical chance of taking the title. French 16 year old Techer is 45 points behind Baldassarri and not only did he win the last race at the Sachsenring but that weekend reminded us that it is all too possible for the Cup leader to score zero any weekend. Techer is on form and talented, he made his comeback at Brno last year from the broken arm he sustained in the 1st weekend of the season. Although he only started in the 1st race because his arm was less that 100% he does know the track.

Oettl is 65 points behind Baldassarri so with 75 on offer from the last races has a slim chance of the title but he, like Techer, scored a win in Germany so is very much on form. He was only 16th and 12th last year in Brno but 12 months on is a different rider. He should be up the front this year as should fellow 15 year old German Florian Alt. He also hit his stride at his home GP, qualifying on the front row and a 2nd place in Race 2. Alt was 9th and 8th in Brno last year, the best of the remaining Rookies other than Binder.

The Sachsenring races were the closest of the year and that was no surprise, every season they seem to get closer as the year goes on, more and more of the young riders learn to get the best out of the identical machines, closing everything up.

It is all set then for another 2 great races and the intense battle within that is the fight for the Cup. Race 1 starts at 16.30 CET on Saturday August 13th with Race 2 on Sunday at 15.30. The races can be seen on TV around the World and by live webcast at www.redbull.tv with the shows beginning 10 minutes before the races.