August 30 - Emerson Connor Pole
Just Peachy: Emerson Connor Blazes To Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Pole Position At Road Atlanta
Braselton, Ga. (August 30, 2008) -- Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup qualifying from Road Atlanta saw Canadian rider Emerson Connor earn his first-ever Rookies Cup pole position for Sunday's race. Connor, from Burlington, Ontario, set the quickest time in the session with a lap of 1:39.169. Joining Connor on the front row for tomorrow's race are Jacob Gagne, Benny Solis, Jr., and Hayden Gillim.
"It's great winning my first pole. I was giving it all I had in the session," Connor said. "At VIR, I found some speed and I am hoping it is a preview of how fast I can be next year and through the end of this season. The KTM RC 125 is a good motorcycle and I'm thankful for my mechanic and everyone who helped me get here."
Gagne, of Ramona, Calif., was on Connor's tail with a best lap of 1:39.178. "I like this track and I felt really comfortable," said Gagne, who turned 15 years old this week. "I rode with some fast guys today and I got my times down to where they needed to be. I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow and I think it will be a good one."
Solis, of North Hollywood, Calif., was third quickest on Saturday. "It was a positive session for me," said Benny. "We made some changes to the bike and it was an improvement. I think I'll be able to go for the win. I seem to be better in the races than I am in qualifying and I like racing with my fellow competitors. I think it makes us all better and the lap times usually show it."
Gillim, of Owensboro, Ky., who has won the last two Rookies Cup races, will start in fourth position on Sunday. "I didn't think I was going that fast," said Gillim. "I went out right at the end but didn't get much time after I had pitted so I am kinda surprised I'm on the front row. It's good the be up front because it seems like the entire field is going fast here and I think this really is going to be a good race."
The qualifying session, held at the end of a hot and sunny Georgia day, saw Austin DeHaven of Los Angeles, Calif., as the first rider to break 1:40 when he set a time of
1:39.996 midway through the session. DeHaven was fifth at the end of the session, followed by Corey Rech of Liverpool, New York. Local rider Huntley Nash of Marietta, Ga., turned in one of his best qualifying performances of the season to secure the seventh starting spot.
Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., will join them on the second row in eighth position.
Ninth-place racer Tomas Puerta (Colombia) and Bryce Prince (Bakersfield, Calif.) rounded out the top ten. The top 13 riders qualified within two seconds of pole time at the 2.54-mile track, making for a narrow margin between the Rookies.
Austin Medrano and Frankie Lee Gillim failed to set a time in the session.
Those at the Road Atlanta circuit paid their respects to Rookies Cup rider Toriano Wilson with a moment of silence before the Superbike contest on Saturday.
Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Qualifying From Road Atlanta
1. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 1:39.169
2. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 1:39.178
3. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 1:39.305
4. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:39.649
5. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 1:39.958
6. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 1:40.112
7. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 1:40.124
8. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 1:40.213
9. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 1:40. 234
10. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 1:40.314
11. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 1:40.333
12. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 1:40.483
13. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 1:40.917
14. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 1:41.300
15. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 1:41.349
16. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 1:42.461
17. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 1:42.732
18. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 1:44.144
19. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1:48.090
20. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma -- No Time
21. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky -- No Time
Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Points (after seven races)
1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 140 points
2. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 108
3. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 102
4. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 74
5. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 63
6. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 61
7. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 56
8. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 52
9. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 43
10. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 40
11. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 40
12. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 31
13. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 28
14. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 27
15. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 25
16. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 24
17. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 22
18. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 17
19. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 13
20. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 12
21. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 6
22. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 4
23. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1