“I felt I was fast and felt I could win the race,” he said simply. “Yesterday I was a bit uncomfortable on the brakes and I was 3rd. But actually we didn’t change anything on the bike for today, I just me and managed to win. It was a great race with Hanika, I just pushed to the maximum at the end, no plan, I just gave it full gas.”

With a win and 3 finishes as runner up from the first 4 races Hanika has a huge points score and nothing to be ashamed about but the 17-year-old Czech is a racer. “I’m not happy to finish second again of course. It was another tough race, I pushed as hard as I could. Right from the start of the race I felt comfortable on the bike, it was working well so I was enjoying riding it and happy to be leading.”

“At the end I just tried to put in the perfect laps and hoped that was enough to win. Enea passed me and then I just got a sort of mental block that told me not to do anything silly at the last corner and that the points were more important. Of course that’s true and it is important for the championship but it’s not as much fun as winning,” concluded Hanika.

Manzi, the 14-year-old Italian was thrilled with 3rd. “It was such a tough race, they always are in Rookies Cup. Yesterday I got stuck in the pack and just couldn’t break out but I knew I could not let that happen today. I pushed so hard and at the end I really had a go at winning, I went past Hanika but then went wide and he got back in front, then I was just a bit too far back.” he concluded.

The lead trio had been handed a real advantage when a 10 man battle for the lead was broken up by Darryn Binder suffering an engine failure on lap 12 of the 16. It was the end of a storming ride for the 15 year old South African in his first Cup season. He had cut his way through the pack to lead briefly and looked a good bet for a rostrum finish until the engine quit.

As he slowed the pack had to back off and swap lines, that was all the advantage the leading 3 needed to get clear. Then it was Saturday’s winner Jorge Martin, the 15-year-old Spaniard, who charged home 4th ahead of 16-year-old Turk Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Bradley Ray, with the 15-year old Briton losing out in a photo finish to Toprak by 0.003 seconds.

The excellent run of podiums has certainly done good things for Hanika’s points score as he heads into a 7 week break with a 28 point advantage over Martin who in turn is just 1 ahead of Ray, with Razgatlıoğlu a further 3 behind. Victory boosts Bastianini to 5th and they all have to bide their time until practice starts at Assen on June 27th to try their KTM RC 250 Rs again, the next races are on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th at the Dutch TT.

Olly Simpson, the 15-year-old Austrian who crashed at the start of Race 1 on Saturday sustained a straightforward break to the radius bone in his left forearm. His dislocated right shoulder was put back at the track. He has a small crack in his right foot. He is now resting well. The FIM stewards determined that Lukas Trautmann, the 17-year-old Austrian, should miss 3 races for his part in the accident. That covered Race 2 in Jerez and includes the 2 races in Assen.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

Third was 15-year-old Italian Enea Bastianini, a first year Rookie, who trailed the leading pair throughout the second half of the race well ahead of an intense, 6 man battle for 4th. It was 15-year-old Spaniard Diego Perez who got that verdict on the line ahead of Stefano Manzi, the 14-year-old Italian and Turkish 16-year-old Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. Joe Roberts, the 15-year-old American and British 15-year-old Bradley Ray, winner of Race 1 in Austin completed the pack, finishing 7th and 8th.

For once the race followed practice and qualifying as Hanika, Martin and Bastianini made up the front row. The result was anything but a forgone conclusion though because while all 3 got away well they were set upon by the chasing pack.

That hunt included Manuel Pagliani, the 16-year-old Italian who had featured so strongly in both races in Austin. But he would crash out on lap 14 when he clipped the rear of Razgatlıoğlu’s machine, misjudging the braking. Hanika and Martin showed their class by both smashing the lap record as they managed to break away from the group.

There was also a less serious coming together between Hanika and Martin as they raced wheel to wheel at the head of the field, they both went for the same piece of road, they got away with it though and raced on, by then well clear of Bastianini and the rest.

Hanika: “It was a fantastic race. I did make that mistake and we touched,” admitted Hanika who was visibly down about the result. “Otherwise I was comfortable doing most of the leading. Actually I didn’t watch what was happening behind me over the last laps I didn’t want to be distracted, I just rode my own race. Congratulations to Jorge on winning, there is still tomorrow’s race and I want it to be at least as good.”

Martin was so thrilled with victory he could barely breathe as he took his helmet off. “Just incredible… a great race… my first time on the podium in Rookies Cup… my first win.” He caught his breath. “I was riding with Karel and over the last few laps, I knew I could pass him but I was rolling off the throttle and just waiting. I only wanted to pass him at the last corner… and it worked,” he concluded punching the air.

Though he wasn’t in the fight for the win Bastianini was naturally happy to be on the podium so early in his first Rookies Cup season. “It was a fun race, I enjoyed racing up the front with the others. I was just having a bit of a problem with the bike on the brakes, it was unstable turning in so I couldn’t race for the win this time. Tomorrow I will though,” he added with his usual broad grin.

Olly Simpson, the 15-year-old Australian crashed at the start and was taken to hospital with suspected arm injuries.

Source: Red Bull Rookies

It was Hanika’s day, he bettered 15-year-old Martin in the first session as well and that was no real surprise as he had dominated both preseason two-day tests earlier in the year. The first free practice session was cancelled due to a total power failure at the track and therefore the planned first qualifying was extended to 40 minutes and classed as free practice. That left a single 30 minute qualifying session.

Everyone was running new tyres for the final session and Martin only took a couple of laps to get settled in before putting in a quick time to head the table. A lap later Hanika topped him by two tenths with a time almost half a second under the lap record which stands to Spaniard Daniel Ruiz from 2010. Those times were not bettered.

“That was great… in the end,” said Hanika. “At first I was not happy because I was struggling a lot with the rear, under braking and it was sliding a lot. But the guys did a great job of sorting it out and I am very happy with the bike now. Towards the end I tried to go for another quick lap but I couldn’t string the right lap together, either there was another rider or I made a small mistake, the tyres and the bike were fine right to the end.”

Martin also tried to put in the quick lap that would topple Hanika from pole. “I am very happy to qualify on the front row, such a big difference to last year when I was 13th. I tried to put in a quicker lap at the end but just couldn’t do it, a bit of traffic and the tyres were past their best by then. I’m looking forward to the race, I know it will be very difficult, it always is in Rookies Cup.”

Bastianini, the 15-year-old Italian, is not happy just to be completing the front row. “No I wanted to do better, I just could not get a clear lap, to have a clear track and do what I wanted. Never mind, the bike is good and tomorrow I am going to win,” he concluded with casual confidence.

Spanish 15-year-old Perez heads the second row and has good memories of a pair of third places here last year. “I am very happy with that. I had quite a lot of problems with front chatter early on but the guys did a great job of sorting it out and I am sure I can have a good ride tomorrow.”

Race 1 winner from Texas, Bradley Ray, the 15-year-old Briton, qualified 5th and is not at all upset about that. “I’m not a qualifier,” he said simply, “I think I can run with them, I put in my lap at the end and the tyres and bike were good, I’m looking forward to the race.”

Source: Red Bull Rookies Cup

Hanika, the 17-year-old Czech, dominated both of the pre season tests at Jerez and certainly goes back as favourite but as he found out in the first race in the US, form counts for little when the lights go out. He set off from pole but had no answer to Ray’s speed once the 15 year old Briton overcame a mediocre start.

Hanika turned things around following some overnight changes to the bike and was a well deserved winner on Sunday. It was bike setting that played a huge part for those who found success or frustration in the first two races and everyone returns to Jerez with questions about bike setup even after the preseason testing.

Last year it was Spanish newcomers Marcos Ramirez and Diego Perez who shone in Jerez, 15-year-old Ramirez was second in Race 1 and Perez, also 15, was third in both races. They return to Jerez a year wiser and Perez was particularly strong in Texas.

This year it was Italians Manuel Pagliani and Enea Bastianini who looked strongest of the new boys as they qualified 2nd and 3rd in Austin. While 15 year old Bastianini struggled with bike setting in both races and finished 11th and 9th, 16-year-old Pagliani was extremely fast and extremely smooth. Race 1 saw him finish 4th and in Race 2 he was again racing at the front and fighting with Hanika virtually to the flag.

So the Italians will certainly be worth watching in Jerez but Rookies Cup always throws up surprises and there really is no telling who will star in Spain. Unfortunately 16-year-old Japanese Yui Watanabe will not be riding, she is recovering from the small break in her hand and the knock to her hip sustained in Race 2 in Austin and will rest until Assen.

Source: Red Bull Rookies Press Release

Karel Hanika won an incredible Race 2 of the 2013 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, holding off the determined attacks of Manuel Pagliani and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. The 17-year-old Czech leaves the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas heading the points table after finishing 2nd on Saturday.

Just 7 points behind is Saturday’s winner, 15-year-old Briton Bradley Ray who had battled through to challenge for the lead but was clipped by Diego Perez with 3 of the 8 laps remaining. Ray saved a vicious slide to finish 4th while the 15-year-old Spaniard fell unhurt.

That drama gave Hanika a break but Razgatlıoğlu was ahead of the incident and the 16-year-old Turk was determined to take revenge for being denied 2nd by Hanika in Race 1. He had fellow Rookies Cup newcomer Pagliani to deal with though and the super smooth 16-year-old Italian eased his way into 2nd before the flag leaving Razgatlıoğlu 3rd again.

“That really was a tough race,” said Hanika. “I enjoyed it a lot more than Saturday, the guys did a lot of work overnight, they checked everyone’s front suspension, changed the rear and really worked to give us the set-up that would work for Race 2. It made a big difference, the bike was much more rideable and I have to thank them a lot for this victory. To Yui Watanabe who crashed today, I wish her a speedy recovery.”

Watanabe, the 16-year-old Japanese girl somersaulted over the front of her machine when she hit another bike as they braked for one of the tight left-handers. As she required attention on the track the race was red flagged. It looked nasty but the news later from hospital was good as her mentor, ex GP star Nobby Ueda, explained. “The doctors here have checked everything, she just has a small crack in her hip and they say it is not so serious.”

The race was then restarted and run for 8 instead of 12 laps. Pole man Hanika was chased off the line by Pagliani and it was pass and re-pass from the start. Ray only crossed the line 7th at the end of lap 1 but was soon with the lead group. As the advantage changed at every corner, sometimes more than once almost everyone had a run in front, Hanika, Pagliani, Razgatlıoğlu, Ray, Perez with 17-year-old Dutchman Scott Deroue and South African 15-year-old also in the hunt.

Deroue lost ground after a violent front, then rear-end knot tying session through one corner that showed that his bike setting was certainly not all he hoped for. He finished 7th behind Spanish 15-year-old Jorge Martín while Binder was 5th behind Ray.

Pagliani was justifiably satisfied with 2nd. “It was a great race, I enjoyed it and was happy that I could fight all the way with Hanika. I just couldn’t get past him on the last lap. I am looking forward to Jerez, the tests went very well there and I hope that I can be competitive again.”

Razgatlıoğlu was sweating profusely at the end and had obviously put everything into it. “A very tough race, so intense, riding so hard with everyone. We were passing everywhere and I worked as hard as I could. It is great to be on the podium twice in my first Rookies weekend and I am looking forward to Jerez.”

The last word should go to Ray who did such a fantastic job to finish at all. “Not a bad save,” said the bespectacled youth with his characteristic wide-eyed look. “In fact two saves, I had to push hard to get up there as I didn’t make a great start, I got with Hanika but then got hit from behind, I saved it, then got on the gas and it went sideways again.”

The next races are at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on May 4th and 5th.

Photos: Red Bull Media/GEPA Pictures

Bradley Ray obliterated the opposition to win the first race of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for 2013 leaving pole man Karel Hanika and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to cross the line over 6 seconds behind. The 15-year-old Briton had set off from 4th on the grid but after realising he had pace over Hanika he passed the 17-year-old Czech and soon opened up a comanding advantage.

Razgatlıoğlu, the 16-year-old Turk, had qualified 8th and joined Hanika in battling for the remaining rostrum places with Stefano Manzi, Scott Deroue, Manuel Pagliani, Diego Perez and Tarran Mackenzie. On lap 5 of the 12 Manzi, the 14-year-old Italian, crashed spectacularly when his rear wheel touched Deroue’s elbow as the pair changed direction. The 17-year-old Netherlander stayed upright and continued the fight.

The drama behind helped Ray but he really needed no assistance as he reeled off the laps that were at times about 2 seconds quicker than the chasing pack. “It wasn’t that easy. I knew from the start that I had to go with Hanika, he was quicker than all of us in practice. I managed that then I realised that I could go quicker so went in front.”

“We had changed the bike after practice because I had chatter problems in the front. We put in harder springs but that actually made it worse. It was really bad, I just rode as fast as I was comfortable and I knew that if that wasn’t fast enough to win I couldn’t go any quicker. We are definitely going to change the front for tomorrow.”

Similarly Hanika felt that things could have gone better. “That may have looked exciting but honestly it was one of the worst races I have ever had. I was battling everywhere and the settings that worked for qualifying were not right at all. The track is changing with use and we have to change the bike. I really want to do better tomorrow.”

It is a new circuit for everyone, the first ever motorcycle race at the Circuit of The Americas and the first race of the season with the brand new Moto3 spec KTM RC 250 R so not surprising that the riders are both learning the track and learning how to make the bikes work better.

Razgatlıoğlu also intends to look at the settings before Race 2. “I hope we can improve the bike but I really enjoyed the race. It all came down to the last few corners between me and Karel. I was determined to get ahead but I guess he was just as determined to get back at me. I am happy with the way I rode though and looking forward to Race 2.”

Missing from the result was Mackenzie, the 17-year-old Scot had fought his way through from 12th on the grid into a podium position only to have the front fold on him with 2 laps to go. He was unhurt as was Californian 15-year-old Joe Roberts who shot through from the 6th row of the grid to battle for the lead on lap 1 only to slide off before completing the lap.

“No one seemed to know where to brake for the first corner,” explained Roberts. “So I just went round the outside of most of them. After I fell I thought I might as well get something out of the race so I used it as practice, changed the set-up a few times in the pits and tried to improve the bike for tomorrow.”

Source: Red Bull Rookies Press Release

The first ever motorcycle pole position at the Circuit of the Americas has gone to Karel Hanika as the 17-year-old Czech qualified fastest for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races ahead of 16-year-old Manuel Pagliani and 15-year-old Enea Bastianini. The two Italians finished just over a second slower than Hanika but are showing great form in their first Cup season as they line up for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.

“I am very happy with that,” said Hanika. “I am starting this year where I finished last season. The bike is very good; firstly I had suspension problems but the guys from WP and Rookies Cup sorted it out for me and now it is great.”

“It is a new track for everyone and Hanika had an early disagreement with it. “Firstly I didn’t like it… mainly because I crashed in the free practice but actually I like it,” he said with a grin. “It gets better and better as it gets used more and the surface improves. The speciality of this track seems to be the sharp corners and you have to sort them out. Some are very wide going in, very different to Europe, we have to learn all sorts of corners and it makes it very interesting.”

Italians chasing

Pagliani headed the table early in the first session before Hanika took over and neither went faster in the second qualifying session as tyre wear took its toll. The Italian was not completely happy. “Not perfect, I struggled all day with the bike a little, we improved but in the end the front chattering was still a real problem. I know the WP engineer will help again and we will talk about what to do for the race. It is fantastic track though and I really like it so I am confident that I can a good race tomorrow.”

Bastianini did improve, finding almost a second in fact. “I’m very happy with that of course, in the second qualifying the bike set-up was really good and I enjoyed it. I love the track, so much fun. Towards the end of qualifying the rear tyre was very worn and I was sliding around a lot. Of course it is the same for everyone but it is something to think about for the race.”

Ray knows what is needed

He pushed back Brad Ray to 4th but the 15-year-old Briton knows what needs to be done. “We need to make some changes for the race, hopefully we can get rid of the front chatter, it is worse through turns 6 and 7, the long sweeper and then the 2nd-to-last left before the start and finish. If we could get that sorted out it would make a big difference. It’s a lot of fun, a real rider’s circuit and it is not easy to learn. You keep braking too early for the corners, I am still learning it and I am sure everyone is, it will be an interesting two races this weekend.

The first ever motorcycle race at the Circuit of the Americas will be the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 of the 2013 season. So 24 of the fastest teenagers from across the globe have the honour of christening the new 5.15 mile, 8.87 kilometre circuit, just outside Austin, Texas with motorcycle race action on Saturday April 20th.

One of those Rookies will be the first winner at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas and that talented individual will have the opportunity to turn that into a double with Race 2 on Sunday. Doubles are a rarity in Rookies Cup racing though as the class is famous for its incredibly close racing and unpredictable results.

Unpredictable is the key word but if there is any favourite going into the first of the 14 race season it should be Karel Hanika from the Czech Republic who turns 17 on Sunday April 14th, the weekend before the GP. Not only did the long-hared blond finish 3rd in last year’s Cup table with 3 wins but he was the fastest at both preseason tests this year.

First race for the KTM RC 250 R

Those tests were the first opportunity the Rookies had to ride the new KTM RC 250 R 4-stroke Moto3 machine, the almost twin brother to the factory KTM that ex Rookie Luis Salom used to win the opening Moto3 GP of the season in Qatar for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Motorsport team, the reigning World Champions.

It is the likes of Salom, his team mate Arthur Sissis and host of other ex Rookies who are now battling for glory in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes that are the lead for this year’s Rookies.

Not just Hanika, but 17-year-old Dutchman Scott Deroue, 2nd in last year’s Cup, plus 15-year-old Spaniard Marcos Ramirez and 17-year-old Austrian Lukas Trautmann who tied for 5th on points last year; they are just a few of those who could win in the US. Then there are the newcomers like Italians Manuel Pagliani, 16 and Enea Bastianini, 15, they were 4th and 5th quickest in the 2nd Jerez Test.

The Italians may be newcomers to the Rookies Cup but they have exactly the same amount of track time as the others on the Moto3 spec KTMs after the 4 days of testing. They also have the same amount of COTA track time; zero.

Source: Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Team

The two day test started with miserable cold and rain on Tuesday with 17 year old Austrian Lukas Trautmann fastest ahead of Hanika and Enea Bastianini, the 15 year old Italian riding in his first Rookies Cup season.

A clear blue sky cheered everyone on Wednesday morning and though the track and air temperatures were still low the sun was out. Hanika was quickly on the pace and fastest in both of the first two sessions.

Hanika’s day cut short

At the end of the second session Hanika crashed entering the start and finish straight. “I grabbed too much throttle coming out of the last corner and high-sided myself. I hurt my foot and my left hand, I have had them x-rayed and nothing is broken but my hand is very painful and I can’t hold the handlebars, I tried to ride again but couldn’t. The bike is great we have some good settings I think, I am just sorry that I could not do more laps.”

Spaniards chasing the Czech

15 year old Spaniards Jorge Martin and Marcos Ramirez were the quickest men in the second half of the day, concluding the 5th and final session with the fastest times but without being able to match Hanika’s time from earlier in the day. “I am so happy with the testing today,” said Martin. “It ended brilliantly, we managed to sort out the suspension that was troubling me so much all through the last test and now the bike is really working well, it’s great fun to ride. I can’t wait to get to Texas and the first race. I think it is going to be a great season, I am sure we will all be very close, everyone is enjoying these bikes so much.

Ramirez had the same success. “The test has been very successful, really great. It was hard work though because we had a wet start yesterday and then in the dry today I really struggled with the suspension. We knew we had a lot of work to do on it after the first test and for a while we could not find a solution, in the last session though it really came together and improved a lot, the front chattering was cured and I could go much faster. I think that there is still more we can do but the main problem seems to be solved.”

Trautmann happy with overall performance

Though he was only 12th fastest at the end of the test Trautmann knew that there was a good reason for that. “It was not a perfect test for me but for sure I am very happy. In the rain on day one I felt so much at home on the bike and had such confidence. Then today it was dry and almost immediately I was doing the same times as we did at the first test a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I then had an engine problem and had to swap to a spare bike for the last couple of sessions and so I couldn’t do the lap times I wanted but I’m not too worried about that. Now I just want to get to Texas and go racing, I’m supper happy and feel very confident for the season.”

Source: Red Bull Rookies Press Release