August 2 - Hayden Gillim wins Mid-Ohio pole

HAYDEN GILLIM BLAZES TO MID-OHIO ROOKIES CUP POLE POSITION

Red Bull Rookies Cup qualifying at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course saw Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky. earn the pole position for Sunday's race. Gillim was over one second quicker than the other 22 Red Bull Rookies at Mid-Ohio on Saturday. The thirteen-year-old topped Leandro Mercado of Argentina and Benny Solis of North Hollywood, Calif., to take the top spot. Tomas Puerta of Colombia also earned the front row for tomorrow's race.

The series for 13-to-16-year-old racers from North and South America and the Caribbean saw their session delayed until nearly 7 PM local time due to multiple red flags in other classes, but the Rookies finally got their turn at the 15-turn, 2.25-mile track.

Gillim's best time was 1:35.516. Hayden managed several laps below 1:36 and was the only Rookie to do so. He earned his second pole position of the year. "The track is a really fun track," said Hayden. "I wasn't just trying to set one fast lap but get several good ones in and I managed to do it. I've been here a couple of times so I have some of the lines down around the track. These KTMs are working great around here and I'm happy to get a front row start."

Leandro Mercado was second quickest on Saturday. The 16-year-old said, "I did not know this track, so today I spent the session learning the circuit. I feel like I did a good job today. It's important to start on the front row and I was able to get second place in qualifying. I am looking forward to another good race tomorrow and will do my best."

Points leader Benny Solis was third in Mid-Ohio qualifying. "Hayden is going well. We have a little work to do for tomorrow," acknowledged Solis. "I wanted to make some suspension changes at the end but I ran out of time. The bike was good and it was sliding a little at first, the way I like it, but over time it got a little worse. Besides that, I'm pleased with how the session went for me."

Tomas Puerta rounded out the front row and was just a tenth behind Solis. "I am excited for the race," said Puerta. "The first turn is very short and tight so it should make for a tough start."

Three Californians took spots five through seven. Austin DeHaven of Los Angeles, Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, and Jake Gagne of Ramona all qualified on the second row, with Frankie Gillim of Owensboro, Ky., joining them.

Two New Yorkers rounded out the top ten. Travis Wyman of Macedon was ninth and Corey Rech from Liverpool was tenth.

None of the Rookies crashed in their 30 minute qualifying session.

The 16-lap Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race at the 2.2-mile, 15-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is scheduled for Sunday at 11 AM local time.

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup qualifying from Mid-Ohio

1. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:35.516
2. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 1:36.663
3. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 1:36.721
4. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 1:36.842
5. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 1:37.176
6. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 1:37.382
7. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 1:37.531
8. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 1:37.547
9. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 1:37.591
10. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 1:37.663
11. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 1:37.736
12. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 1:37.742
13. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 1:37.755
14. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 1:37.981
15. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 1:38.415
16. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 1:38.446
17. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 1:38.564
18. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 1:38.747
19. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 1:38.927
20. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 1:39.013
21. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 1:39.369
22. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 1:39.604
23. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1:41.214

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Points (after five races)

1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 100
2. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 81
3. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 52
4. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 52
5. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 49
6. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 44
7. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 44
8. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 35
9. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 31
10. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 27
11. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 26
12. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 22
13. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 22
14. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 21
15. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 21
16. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 20
17. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 15
18. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 10
19. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 9
20. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 8
21. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 6
22. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 4
23. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1

For more information on the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup, please visit www.redbullrookiescup.com and www.redbullusa.com/rookiescup.