October 25 - Valencia Red Bull Rookies
According To Hoyle: Valencia Red Bull Riders Cup Goes To Red Bull MotoGP RookiesOct 25
Jake Gagne Earns Podium as Top Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookie in Spain
Valencia, Spain (October 25, 2008) -- Matthew Hoyle dominated the Red Bull Riders Cup in Valencia, leading his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup squad to a victory in the team competition over the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup team, 91 to 49. Hoyle, from Great Britain, won the race over Spaniard Luis Salom and Jake Gagne of Ramona, Calif., in dominating fashion. Hoyle started out quickly and continued to improve, setting his quickest lap on the 13th time around the 2.489-mile, stadium-style circuit.
"It was my last race with the Red Bull Rookies so I wanted to go out with a win," said Holye. "I was quick in all the practice and qualifying sessions. I managed to get my head down at the beginning of the race and pull a gap. I tried to stay as consistent as possible."
Jake Gagne was the top finisher on the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies team after another remarkable performance from the two-time Rookies Cup race winner. Gagne ends his first year of roadracing by earning a hard fought podium position in the all-star Riders Cup event.
After showing remarkable consistency in the 2008 season, Jake had a difficult day on Friday. Gagne, who was the only Rookie to score points in every 2008 race in the U.S., fell three times in the wet in Friday's practice. But Jake rebounded nicely in the race. Gagne moved up to second place by the end of lap two.
Gagne fell into the clutches of the charging Salom, and Luis took the position on lap six. Jake kept up the pressure on his Spanish rival and shadowed him until lap 11 when Gagne had a miraculous save after a near crash. Jake injured his foot (breaking his left toe) while saving his KTM RC 125 fitted with Dunlop tires. From then on, Gagne consolidated his third place spot position to earn a podium finish in his first road race outside the United States.
"I'm really happy with the race today," said Gagne. "A podium felt really good. I was trying to stay with Salom and in turn three I nearly highsided. I saved it but I ran over my foot. From then on, I was just trying to stay on the podium and I tried to keep an eye on what was going on behind me."
For Jake, his first year of roadracing is in the books with another accomplishment to add. "It's pretty crazy in a good way. I need to keep focusing and keep putting in the work and improving," he said.
Gagne said he was disappointed the team not to win the Red Bull Riders Cup, but noted the final results were closer this time than at Indy. "We tried hard but the MotoGP Rookies Cup team did a great job and won the Cup again. We'll come back next year and try to win it," he said.
Leandro Mercado from Argentina produced a thrilling race for the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup team on Saturday. "Tati" started last (19th place) after problems in wet qualifying but in the race put on a spectacular charge. Mercado held fourth position at the beginning of the last lap but ended up sixth place in a spectacular five-rider pack battling for the spot.
"It was a very difficult race because I only got six laps on Friday because of some crashes," said Mercado. "I was learning as the race went on but I was able to battle with some great riders and keep moving up. It feels good to get a solid result because I just about wanted to go home yesterday and charging up through the field today gave me a lot of confidence."
Tomas Puerta of Colombia and Hayden Gillim from Owensboro, Ky., also finished in the top ten for the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup team.
"All the boys from both teams did a great job this weekend," said Riders Coach Kevin Schwantz. "The Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup team had the toughest situation possible with having to learn the track in the wet and then have a dry race. All of our team were able to keep it up on two wheels and finish the race. We learned a lot this weekend and I think every rider came through in the race."
1. Matthew Hoyle, GBR
2. Luis Salom, SPA
3. Jake Gagne, USA*
4. Florian Marino FRA
5. Nelson major, FRA
6. Leandro Mercado, ARG*
7. Jakub Kornfeil CZE
8. Marcus Reiterberger, GER
9. Tomas Puerta, COL*
10. Hayden Gillim, USA*
11. JD Beach, USA
12. Austin DeHaven, USA*
13. Emerson Connor, CAN*
14. Benny Solis, USA*
15. Joey Pascarella, USA*
16. Sturla Fagerhaug, NOR
17. Bryce Prince, USA*
18. Huntley Nash, USA*
DNF Mathew Scholtz RSA
DNS Daniel Ruiz SPA
* denotes Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup team member