Jorge Martin Charges to Victory in Rd. 3 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
OutdoorHub 06.02.14
Jorge Martin was the man to beat when the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup riders took to the Mugello circuit on Saturday for Round Three of the 2014 Cup competition. The Spaniard declared his intention at the very start of the 16-lap race and wrapped up the victory with an enviable winning margin.
Martin dominated the race from the very beginning and quickly distanced himself from the rest of the field while a group of five riders behind him jockeyed for position. By mid race Martin was leading by an overwhelming six seconds, leaving the rest of the field to scrap it out for the other podium places. When they crossed the line, it was a photo finish between two Italian riders, Manuel Pagliani and Stefano Manzi, who took 2-3 and separated by just four thousandths of a second.
Probably one of the unluckiest riders was Brad Ray of the UK who was a podium contender along with Olley Simpson of Australia as the fight for the minor podium places began to tighten up in the final laps. Then Ray went out with a mechanical issue leaving Simpson to pick up an uncontested fourth overall.
Jorge Martin: “It was an incredible race. I knew I wanted to push from the beginning and I tried to increase the gap lap by lap.”
Martin’s win puts him on top of the championship leader board five points ahead of Pagliani. Japanese rider Soushi Mihara, who finished sixth on Saturday on the sweeping Italian circuit is currently third. Mihara was the winner of the opening round.
Riders now have to wait until June 27-28 for Rounds 4-5 at the traditional TT Circuit in Assen, Netherlands.
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Results of Rd. 3 in Mugello, Italy (All riders on KTM RC 250 R)
1, Jorge Martin, ESP, 30:48.158
2, Manuel Pagliani, ITA at 2.709
3, Stefano Manzi, ITA, at 2.713
4, Olly Simpson, AUS, at 7.853
5, Toprak Razgatlioglu, TUR, at 16.086
6, Soushi Mihara, JAP, at 30.511
7, Fabio Di Giannantonio, ITA, at 30.513
8, Bruno Ieraci, ITA, at 30.582
9, Aris Michail, GER, at 35.281
10, Corentin Perolari, FRA, at 36.439
Standings after Rd. 3
1, Martin, 61
2, Pagliani, 56
3, Mihara, 42
4, Manzi, 40
5, Mir, 38
