Tag Archives: Pedro Acosta

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Up close and personal with the 2024 GASGAS RC16 MotoGP machine

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2024 GASGAS RC16

Only days away from the first official 2024 pre-season tests getting underway in Malaysia, GASGAS overnight officially launched their campaign and presented the latest RC16.

2022 Moto2 World Champion and 2023 MotoGP Rookie of the Year Augusto Fernandez will tackle his sophomore attempt at the premier class with the GASGAS RC16 and will be aiming to better a ‘PB’ race result of 4th from 2023 as well as enter the top ten of the championship standings.

Augusto Fernandez
Augusto Fernandez

“Everything was new and there was a lot to learn last year but there were points towards the end of the season where I felt fast and like I had the speed. I felt comfortable riding the bike but as a rookie you had to be very patient and trust the process. When I finished 2023 I analyzed the season and saw I had made the steps I needed to take. I am looking forward to this year because I now have the references of each track with the GASGAS RC16 and I know on Fridays we need to put a lot of input because it can decide much of the weekend. I’m super-proud to be partnering with Red Bull, and to have them on the bike. It’s a dream and we have everything we need to perform. It’s in our hands so let’s go for it.”

Augusto Fernandez

The 26-year-old is, of course, joined by fellow Spaniard and reigning Moto2 Champ Pedro Acosta. The 19-year-old already has Moto3 and Moto2 titles in just three years of GP competition and comes to the MotoGP fray with deserved hype and expectation. 2024 will be his first taste of the demands and technical complexities of MotoGP and the initial step of what could be a truly spectacular career.

Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta

“If I think about my career and journey so far then it is quite nice! Nice to say I had the opportunity to ride for a factory team in my first season, nice to say I won two titles in three years, it is nice to say I come into a factory team for the first season in MotoGP. But it is also quite tough to play with the pressure, to play with the comments. I don’t want to think about results at the moment. I just have one day on the bike, and it is not the time to talk about results or targets because it is not realistic. I will try to enjoy the Malaysia test and try to get as much experience as I can to try and be competitive at the beginning of the season but during that we also need to take race experience to grow step-by-step.”

Pedro Acosta

Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 is again led by Nicolas Goyon, for the second season in a row, and with excellent back up from the likes of Pol Espargaro in a test rider and supporting role and the team’s loyal band of partners and suppliers.

Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez
Nicolas Goyon – Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 Team Manager

“In 2023 we had a lot of changes. We had this new Sprint format, and the new team structure but this means we are set and ready for the coming season. Augusto was strong for his rookie season. Of course, we all expect him to improve for 2024.He is very calm! He always takes some time to think about what has happened on the track and then to explain the technique and his feelings. This is something super-important for the team to develop and set-up the bike. Pedro is a great talent but my message for the fans would be ‘be patient’. You know, it is not so easy for a rookie to perform. It is complicated now with ride-height devices and a lot of electronics. The format of the weekend is also complicated and something to learn. Let’s give him time. For me, the 2024 Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 line-up will be even closer to the fans. Both riders are young, and we know this is the main target for GASGAS, to connect and excite all those that watch MotoGP.”

Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez
Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 Team Principal

“One of the very exciting things that has happened this winter is the return of Red Bull with Tech3, and we are extremely happy to have them again featuring on our MotoGP bike. This season will be more exciting than ever, with a very competitive grid: riders and technical packages are so close to each other, so I truly believe that we are set for an amazing show. Augusto Fernandez learnt a lot last year, and he is ready to perform and fight for top positions. One of the most exciting prospects that MotoGP™ has known in recent years, Pedro Acosta, will line up for us. His first day at the Valencia test gave us the insurance that he has everything to have a brilliant rookie season, and we are looking forward to heading to Sepang to kick things off!”

Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez
Pit Beirer – GASGAS Motorsport Director

“2023 was a very intense year for our first season with GASGAS on the grid but Augusto came in with a great approach – he is super-positive and a fighter – and gave us a highlight in Le Mans with his 4th position. I feel the team adapted really well over the whole season and I’m looking forward to seeing what Augusto can do in his second go. With Pedro I think the whole paddock and community agrees that there is a diamond coming up in this sport. He is a very special rider, a unique rider who has already broken so many records at a young age.Pedro will make us better and stronger for the future, so we are happy to have him. I feel GASGAS is a very dynamic brand, and looking to the team spirit with these two fantastic athletes it is definitely the one to watch out for in ’24.”

2024 GASGAS RC16
Hubert Trunkenpolz – Member of the Board, Pierer Mobility AG

“One of the reasons why we went with GASGAS into MotoGP was to create brand awareness and it worked perfectly. MotoGP is, by far, the biggest and most successful platform because the media value and the public attendance is immense and we are absolutely happy we made that move. We now have a very exciting combination of Augusto and Pedro and a motorcycle that has proven it is ready for trophies. We know it will be a long season and the Sprints have been challenging: the really positive thing is that the fans really appreciate [the Sprints], the action on Saturday, and frankly speaking I also like it. At the end of the day the guys are racers. It’s great to have Red Bull onboard this year and I think the 2024 livery looks fantastic.”

2024 GASGAS RC16

The 2024 MotoGP season gets underway with round one at Lusail International Circuit on the weekend of March 10. The season opener under lights will be the first of a scheduled 22 rounds and 44 races (2024 will be the second term of the Saturday Sprint format). Although there are murmurs that the Argentinean round may be cancelled.

Source: MCNews.com.au

MotoGP, News

Record breaking Pedro Acosta first rookie champ since Capirossi

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Acosta crowned in Portugal

In a tense thriller at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, the rookie sensation sealed the deal with a win as sole remaining rival Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) hit some bad luck on the final lap. Acosta has led the standings since the second Grand Prix of the season – his incredible win from pitlane in Doha – and takes his place in history as the first rookie lightweight class Champion since Loris Capirossi in 1990.

Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta

“It’s unbelievable, I was thinking on the in-lap about everything that’s happened this last year. Less than a year ago I lost the opportunity to come here with another team, and finally Aki, Red Bull and KTM gave me the opportunity. But they didn’t give me a team, they gave me a family. I didn’t win this alone, we won this together. The guys didn’t stop believing in me when in the middle of the season I had some bad races or when I crashed, you know. Everyone believe in me and this is for everyone in the team, for Aki, Red Bull, KTM, all my mechanics. Everybody.

Pedro Acosta

“I’m not proud of myself, I’m more super proud of them who didn’t stop believing. Everybody was talking about it… we did it together for sure. I think they gave me the mentality of not riding alone, I ride with my team, with my close circle. We know we won this together.

Pedro Acosta

“I preferred to not look behind and just try to push. The only thing I could do was push and I did. I’m proud to fight with Dennis, and for sure he’s going to fight for the Championship next year. I’m proud to fight with these guys.”

Pedro Acosta

The ascent to the crown

Acosta’s ascent to the crown began at five years old when his family bought him a dirt bike. But it wasn’t quite love at first sight, although the young Spaniard did have an apt hero: Kevin Schwantz. And he did keep going, starting a path that would really take off in 2017 as he took the pre-Moto3 title in Spain with two races to spare, starting to stand out.

RedBullRookies Misano Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta at Misano in 2019 Red Bull Rookies

He then moved into the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship for 2018, and had some solid finishes. But in 2019 his incredible ascent gained even more traction as he paired the FIM Moto3 JWCh with his first season in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. In the FIM CEV Repsol paddock he started running at the front and finished in the top five, and in the Rookies Cup he came overall runner up after a stunning first season in the series. Three wins and five podiums didn’t secure him the crown, but then came 2020.

Pedro Acosta was the 2020 Red Bull Rookies Cup champion

Acosta was a force to be reckoned with in the FIM Moto3 JWCh and came third overall, with three wins and five further podiums. In the Rookies, however, he was absolutely unstoppable. He won the first six races in a row and wrapped up the crown with two races remaining.

Making his debut in the Moto3 World Championship in 2021, then, came with some hype. But that hype was outgunned in just two races: in the first he took second and debuted on the podium, just 0.042s off the win. Second time out, Acosta won. And somehow, he did it from pitlane.

2021 Moto3 Qatar 2 Podium
1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 38:22.430
2 Darryn Binder – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – +0.039
3 Niccolo Antonelli – Avtintia Esponsorama Moto3 – KTM – +0.482

It was a truly stunning race as the Spaniard was given a pitlane start and then emerged to take his first Grand Prix win, slicing through the pack lap after lap. In Portugal he won again, this time in a duel vs future title rival Foggia, and in Jerez it became three in a row. Goosebump-inducing greatness was the name of the game in his first four races, with history made nearly every weekend.

2021 Styria Moto3 podium Red Bull Ring
1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 39:45.869
2 Sergio Garcia – Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – +14.431
3 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – +15.410

Three top 10s followed but Acosta was back on top in style at the Sachsenring, before only just missing out on the podium at Assen. Another win at the Styrian GP after an incredible duel against earlier season rival Sergio Garcia (MuchoNeaumatico GASGAS Aspar Team) cemented an incredible lead for the number 37, and another fourth in the Austrian GP added more good points.

Pedro Acosta

A few tougher races then followed, including his first and only DNF at Aragon, but by the time the paddock arrived back at Misano for the Emilia-Romagna GP, it was match point time. Foggia was on a roll but the points were still very much in Acosta’s favour, and as the Italian won to keep the fight rolling to the Algarve GP, the number 37 was at least back on the podium in third – for the first time since his Styrian GP win.

Pedro Acosta

And so the rollercoaster beckoned. Foggia vs Acosta had decided the Portuguese Grand Prix, and in Acosta’s favour, but everything was on the line at the Grande Premio Brembo do Algarve. 21 points clear, a race win would guarantee a title win, but Foggia was right in the fight at the front.

Starting P14 made life difficult for Acosta, but in true Acosta style, it didn’t take long for the number 37 to be fighting for the race lead. An epic, enthralling, and, in the end, dramatic encounter followed. Acosta dived up the inside of Foggia at Turn 3 on the final lap to take the lead. Unfortunately for Foggia, the Italian was then taken out not long after and lost the right to reply, with Acosta going on to claim victory and with it the 2021 Moto3 title.

Pedro Acosta – 2021 Moto3 World Champion

Pedro Acosta Stats

Pedro Acosta is the first rider to take the title in his rookie season in the 125cc/Moto3 class since Loris Capirossi in 1990.

Aged 17 years and 166 days old, he also becomes the second youngest ever World Champion in GP racing, one day behind Loris Capirossi (17 years and 165 days old).

Acosta is the sixth Spanish rider to win the Moto3 title since the introduction of the class back in 2012 and the 15th different Spanish rider to clinch the title in the lightweight category (the 22nd in GP racing). In addition, Acosta’s title is the 21st in the lightweight class for Spain and the 55th in Grand Prix racing.

This is the fifth time that a KTM rider has won the Moto3 world title, adding to the championships won by Sandro Cortese (2012), Maverick Viñales (2013), Brad Binder (2016) and Albert Arenas (2020).

Acosta becomes the second successive rider to clinch the title in the lightweight category without a single pole position, after Albert Arenas last year.

In Styria, Acosta won for the fifth time in his rookie season in Moto3, becoming the first rookie to take five wins in the 125cc/Moto3 class since Alex Criville in 1989 (on his way to clinching the title).

Following Qatar, Doha, Portugal and Spain, Acosta becomes the first ever rider to stand on the podium on his first four GP races.

At the Spanish GP, Acosta won for the first third time in what was only his fourth race in Moto3. Aged 16 years and 342 days old, he becomes the youngest rider ever to take three successive GP wins, taking the record off Marco Melandri (17 years and 29 days old).

Acosta has stood on the podium eight times in 2021 (including six wins), two less Dennis Foggia. They are the riders with most podium finishes during the season.

At the Doha GP, Acosta became the first rider to start from pitlane and win the race since the introduction of Moto3 in 2012.

  • First Grand Prix: Qatar 2021, Moto3
  • First podium: Qatar 2021, Moto3
  • First victory: Doha 2021, Moto3
  • Grands Prix: 17 (17 in Moto3)
  • Victories: 6 (6 in Moto3)
  • Podiums: 8 (8 in Moto3)
  • Fastest laps: 1 (1 in Moto3)
  • World Championships: Moto3 (2021)
Pedro Acosta – 2021 Moto3 World Champion
Pedro Acosta – 2021 Moto3 World Champion

Moto3 Race Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 Pedro ACOSTA KTM 38m04.339
2 Andrea MIGNO Honda +0.354
3 Niccolò ANTONELLI KTM +0.88
4 Jeremy ALCOBA Honda +1.768
5 Izan GUEVARA GASGAS +1.839
6 Ayumu SASAKI KTM +1.874
7 Romano FENATI Husqvarna +1.972
8 Xavier ARTIGAS Honda +2.333
9 Tatsuki SUZUKI Honda +3.423
10 Filip SALAC KTM +6.591
11 Adrian FERNANDEZ Husqvarna +6.94
12 Carlos TATAY KTM +9.392
13 Daniel HOLGADO KTM +9.93
14 Joel KELSO KTM +9.996
15 Alberto SURRA Honda +10.416
16 Stefano NEPA KTM +11.65
17 Lorenzo FELLON Honda +11.695
18 Riccardo ROSSI KTM +11.736
19 Jaume MASIA KTM +13.616
20 Yuki KUNII Honda +30.001
21 Ryusei YAMANAKA KTM +30.183
22 Andi Farid IZDIHAR Honda +30.249
Kaito TOBA KTM +8 Laps
Not Classified
DNF Dennis FOGGIA Honda 1 Lap
DNF Sergio GARCIA GASGAS 1 Lap
DNF John MCPHEE Honda 17 Laps
DNF Darryn BINDER Honda 0 Lap

Moto3 Championship Standings

Pos Rider Bike Nation Points
1 Pedro ACOSTA KTM SPA 259
2 Dennis FOGGIA Honda ITA 213
3 Sergio GARCIA GASGAS SPA 168
4 Romano FENATI Husqvarna ITA 156
5 Jaume MASIA KTM SPA 155
6 Niccolò ANTONELLI KTM ITA 145
7 Darryn BINDER Honda RSA 136
8 Izan GUEVARA GASGAS SPA 116
9 Ayumu SASAKI KTM JPN 114
10 Andrea MIGNO Honda ITA 110
11 Jeremy ALCOBA Honda SPA 85
12 Deniz ÖNCÜ KTM TUR 84
13 Tatsuki SUZUKI Honda JPN 76
14 John MCPHEE Honda GBR 72
15 Kaito TOBA KTM JPN 64
16 Gabriel RODRIGO Honda ARG 60
17 Filip SALAC KTM CZE 58
18 Stefano NEPA KTM ITA 53
19 Xavier ARTIGAS Honda SPA 47
20 Ryusei YAMANAKA KTM JPN 47
21 Carlos TATAY KTM SPA 32
22 Riccardo ROSSI KTM ITA 29
23 Adrian FERNANDEZ Husqvarna SPA 28
24 Jason DUPASQUIER KTM SWI 27
25 Yuki KUNII Honda JPN 15
26 Maximilian KOFLER KTM AUT 10
27 Elia BARTOLINI KTM ITA 7
28 Daniel HOLGADO KTM SPA 4
29 Andi Farid IZDIHAR Honda INA 4
30 Syarifuddin AZMAN Honda MAL 3
31 Joel KELSO KTM AUS 2
32 Alberto SURRA Honda ITA 1

2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar

Round Date Location
Round 1 Mar-28 Qatar, Losail (night race)
Round 2 Apr-04 Doha, Losail (night race)
Round 3 Apr-18 Portugal, Portimao
Round 4 May-02 Spain, Jerez
Round 5 May-16 France, Le Mans
Round 6 May-30 Italy- Mugello
Round 7 Jun-06 Catalunya, Barcelona
Round 8 Jun-20 Germany, Sachsenring
Round 9 Jun-27 Netherlands, Assen
Round 10 Aug-8 Styria, Red Bull Ring
Round 11 Aug-15 Austria, Red Bull Ring
Round 12 Aug-29 Great Britain, Silverstone
Round 13 Sep-12 Aragon, Motorland Aragon
Round 14 Sep-19 San Marino, Misano
Round 15 Oct-03 Americas, Circuit of the Americas
Round 16 Oct-24 Italy e dell’Emilia Romagna, Misano
Round 17 Nov-7 Portugal, Algarve
Round 18 Nov-14 Valencia, Circuit Ricardo Tormo

Source: MCNews.com.au

MotoGP, News

Acosta and Fernandez officially confirmed in plum Ajo Moto2 seats

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Plum Moto2 berths filled for 2022

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s fantastic work with the development of Remy Gardner (four Grand Prix wins in 2021 in his first season with the crew and currently leading the championship) and Raul Fernandez (the rookie has four victories and seven podium finishes) has been a crucial part of the KTM GP Academy process and made their seats coveted berths for season 2022. Both current riders will step up to MotoGP in 2022 with the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team.

Aki Ajo, Team Principal

“We’ve had a very strong season in Moto2 with Remy and Raul and there are still a few races to go but looking to 2022 we are very happy to have another couple of great riders with Pedro and Augusto and a promising combination of experience and youth. We have known Augusto for some time and have seen his career and results. He has shown big potential and I think we can achieve great things together. Pedro’s rookie year in Moto3 has been something special and even more is coming. The step to Moto2 after just one season in Moto3 is a big one but if there is one racer that can make this step then it’s Pedro. We have a lot of trust in him and will, of course, fully support him. Together with Red Bull and KTM I am confident we have selected the right riders for our KTM GP Academy for the future.”

Ajo’s Moto2 set-up now looks towards their next project and have two equally promising racers in the forms of Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez. Acosta, 17-years-old and the 2020 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, has been the revelation of the Moto3 division in his maiden term. The teenager has shaken the contest with five wins and six trophies in total as the series prepares to visit MotorLand Aragon this weekend.

Pedro Acosta

“Jumping to Moto2 was my goal because I believe it’s the step I need to make. Of course, there is always more to learn – and I could do that in Moto3 – but when it comes to details and my development as a rider then it feels like the right move. It’s a big advantage to stay in the Red Bull KTM Ajo team as we now have a year of working together and it’s always important to keep a good and positive feeling with the people around you. The team have really helped me in my first world championship year. It’s been a big step into the world championship but I worked for it and I’m happy with how things have been going.”

Pedroa Acosta has been scintillating in Moto3 this season

Fernandez, soon-to-be 24 years old, brings Moto2 experience and podium pedigree (eight trophies, including three wins) to the race team. The Spaniard is hoping to make the last step to full championship candidate with the Ajo structure and seize the opportunity to further stamp his name in Moto2 results, much in the same way Gardner has done in 2021.

Augusto Fernandez

“I’m really happy and satisfied to be joining Red Bull KTM Ajo. The team has been a reference in the category now for many years by winning races and fighting for championships. I think that experience of going for titles will really help me next year and I’m already looking forward to working with them.”

Augusto Fernandez on the podium at Red Bull Ring this year
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director

“We are very pleased to announce the Moto2 rider line-up with Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez for our KTM GP Academy. Together with Red Bull KTM Ajo we have the best possible structure to support both riders in their next challenge. Aki Ajo and his team have played a fundamental role in the careers of many riders and we can be proud to have him by our side for the next project in rider development. It is a great pleasure to support Pedro’s desire to move up from Moto3 to the next category. What he has shown in his first World Championship season is outstanding and we believe he can keep the momentum going. He will continue to focus on his goal for 2021, but we will then tackle the next challenge together. With Augusto we welcome another promising talent to our Red Bull KTM family. He has shown great signs and we are happy to have an experienced Moto2 rider in our line-up. I am sure that under Aki’s guidance he can make the next level in performance and we will celebrate some exciting results in the near future.”

Source: MCNews.com.au

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Breakthrough weekend for Billy Van Eerde in Austria

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2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Round 5 – Red Bull Ring, Austria

Images by Gold & Goose/Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool

Australia’s Billy Van Eerde has taken a 2-3 result at the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Round 5 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, with the two podium results boosting him to 11th in the standings, now on 47-points.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Billy van Eerde
Billy Van Eerde – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Pedro Acosta claimed the Race 1 win from Van Eerde and Noguchi, with standings leader Carlos Tatay way back in 14th. Race 2 saw Noguchi win, with Tatay back in the fight and on the podium in second, ahead of Van Eerde. Race 1 winner Acosta was back in fifth behind Huertas.

Qualifying

Spaniards were in control all the way through Free Practice and Qualifying with 15-year-old Alex Escrig finally grabbing pole ahead of 14-year-old Marcos Uriarte after the pair worked together at the end of Qualifying. Fellow countryman and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup leader, 16-year-old Carlos Tatay was all on his own for third.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Alex Escrig
Alex Escrig – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

The Escrig/Uriarte plan also included another Spielberg first timer, 15-year-old Pedro Acosta but the 15-year-old Spaniard missed out and was only ninth fastest. Also missing out was Japanese 18-year-old Haruki Noguchi who topped the timing screen only to have that best lap cancelled because he exceeded track limits.

Tatay has already won five races and scored two second places this year. With rival Yuki Kunii missing the Austrian round after injuring his right hand again in his wild card GP debut in Brno last weekend the 16-year-old Spaniard could well clinch the Cup this weekend.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Field
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

He could even do it on Saturday if Acosta, David Salvador and Jason Dupasquier do not score a few points. Most likely the Cup will still be in play on Sunday. Yet another Spaniard, 15-year-old David Salvador, starts fifth.

Race 1

A photo finish gave Pedro Acosta victory over Billy van Eerde and Haruki Noguchi in an incredible Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 in Austria.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Sensation from start to finish with run-away points leader Carlos Tatay given a ride-through penalty for a jump start along with fellow front row sitter Marcos Uriarte who was rolling while the crowd were still taking their seats.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Billy Van Eerde
Billy Van Eerde – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Tatay and Uriarte recovered to score two and one-points respectively but it very much keeps the Cup alive as Acosta has slashed Tatay’s advantage to 54-points. Yuki Kunii is only 49 behind Tatay but the Japanese 16-year-old misses both races this weekend through injury.

It was at least a lead battle of twelve KTM RC 250 Rs and no one even looked like breaking away. In the closing stages it was Acosta, van Eerde and Noguchi who seemed strongest but the result was still wide open and the win only decided on the dash from the last corner to the flag.

Pedro Acosta

“An incredible feeling, I won that when the race was red flagged so this is much better. I had a good feeling going into the race because in FP1 and FP2 my times were good. I made a bit of a mess of Qualifying so only started ninth but I managed to get to the front quickly. At the end I didn’t want to lead, there are so many places to pass here, straights to slipstream, I just wanted to be third or second and I managed that. Then the last corners just worked perfectly but it was so close. It was so close, Noguchi touched me coming through the last turn but it was really such a nice fight, great fun.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Van Eerde had lost a podium in Race 2 at the Sachsenring because of exceeding track limits but not this time and was ecstatic to finish on the podium.

Billy Van Eerde

“Finally, it was such a great race, I just kept pushing and never gave up. I wasn’t so happy with the bike in Qualifying and was only 11th on the grid. It was a bit unstable but I talked to Santi (Suspension engineer Santiago Morralla) and he had it sorted for the race. In the last corner Noguchi came across and I lost my drive just a bit but I’m so happy to get on the podium.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Billy Van Eerde
Billy Van Eerde – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Noguchi picked up his third third-place of his first Rookies Cup season.

Haruki Noguchi

“Not perfect, I had two or three plans for the end of the race but they didn’t quite work on the last lap, I still had a plan for the last corner as I’d watched the videos from the last few years, it almost worked but not quite. Tomorrow I will try again. I did change the bike after qualifying but for tomorrow we will go back a bit and I hope that can make the difference, I want to win.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Haruki Noguchi
Haruki Noguchi – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

A very close fourth was French 14-year-old Gabin Planques whose previous best was 11th in Race 2 at the Sachsenring. Pole man Alex Escrig was in the lead group but ran off the track with a few laps to go, so none of the front row featured in the final podium contest.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Race Podium
Race 1 podium, 1) Pedro Acosta, 2) Billy Van Eerde, 3) Haruki Noguchi – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria
Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria RaceResults Spielberg
Race 1 Results – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Race 2

Any one of sixteen could have won the second intense seventeen lap race but it was Japanese 18-year-old Haruki Noguchi who put together two perfect corners to complete his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup victory. Cup leader Carlos Tatay almost stole the win by passing him into the penultimate corner but the 16-year-old Spaniard drifted a fraction wide and Noguchi was back ahead.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun field
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Billy van Eerde, the 17-year-old Australian picked up his second podium of the weekend with a fine third ahead of Adrián Huertas, Pedro Acosta and Zonta van den Goorbergh. Two seconds covered the top 14 KTM RC 250 Rs at the finish.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun field
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria
Haruki Noguchi

“Finally a win and I am very happy with that. It was half full gas and half a bit of planning. It was such a tight bunch that I though it best to keep in the top three or four to keep out of trouble. On the last lap I wanted to take the lead and hold it but Tatay managed to get ahead and I had to repass him, then I went for maximum corner speed and using all the track at the last corner so I could not be passed. It worked. I want to thank everyone who supports me including the technical staff, we swapped back to the settings I used for Qualifying and that worked well today.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Haruki Noguchi
Haruki Noguchi – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

With a hand already on the Cup title Tatay might have cruised a bit and picked up useful points but the racer never thought of that.

Carlos Tatay

“I’m not thinking about the championship. I wanted to win. I went for the inside line at the end but just could not hold on. Still, second is good and I am very happy after yesterday’s mistake at the start. I really want to thank my manager and my mechanic, they know exactly how to give me a boost when I need it.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Carlos Tatay
Carlos Tatay – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Wearing the same brilliant smile he carried after yesterday’s second place, Aussie Billy van Eerde was happy with third.

Billy van Eerde

“It was a different race to yesterday, I was stuck more in the pack. Things were so close this time that I couldn’t find the line I needed and it was very hard to make progress. I just kept pushing though and made it work at the end.”

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Billy van Eerde
Billy Van Eerde – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Like van Eerde, Huertas has had a torrid second Rookies Cup season but the 15-year-old Spaniard put that behind him with a fine fourth. The same plan didn’t work so well for Saturday’s winner Acosta.

So rapid were the changes of fortune through the entire race that David Salvador, the 15-year-old Spaniard who had the lead with a couple of laps to go ended up 16th after colliding with Marcos Uriarte on the final lap. Uriarte rolled home 20th, completing a frustrating weekend that had looked so promising when he qualified second.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Acosta
Pedro Acosta – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

Pole sitter Alex Escrig was even more unlucky. He ended up stuck in the gravel trap on Saturday and didn’t even make the start on Sunday after a collision with van den Goorbergh on the warm up lap. Escrig fell and his bike was damaged so the 15-year-old Spaniard could not start.

Van den Goorbergh did not fall, started as normal but was quickly awarded a long lap penalty for the incident with Escrig. He served the penalty and then managed to get back in the pack.

Red Bull Rookies Cup Rnd Austria Sun Race Podium
Race 1 podium, 1) Haruki Noguchi, 2) Carlos Tatay, 3) Billy Van Eerde – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria
Race Classification for AUT RookiesCup RAC
Race 2 Results – Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2019 – Round 5, Austria

2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup standings

  1. CARLOS TATAY (Spain) 158 points
  2. YUKI KUNII (Japan) 109
  3. PEDRO ACOSTA (Spain) 104
  4. HARUKI NOGUCHI (Japan) 82
  5. JASON DUPASQUIER (Switzerland) 79
  6. LORENZO FELLON (France) 77
  7. DAVID SALVADOR (Spain) 75
  8. MAX COOK (United Kingdom) 58
  9. MARCOS URIARTE (Spain) 54
  10. BARRY BALTUS (Belgium) 48
  11. BILLY VAN EERDE (Australia) 47
  12. ZONTA VAN DEN GOORBERGH (Netherlands) 34
  13. MATTEO BERTELLE (Italy) 32
  14. ALEX ESCRIG (Spain) 31
  15. GABIN PLANQUES (France) 25

Source: MCNews.com.au