HANIKA WINS RED BULL MOTOGP ROOKIES CUP RACE AT HOME IN BRNO
published at 08/25/2012 / created by Marcia Hill
Sixteen-year-old Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Karel Hanika picked up a thrilling victory in front of his home crowd at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic in the final lap after stealing the jump on Belgium’s Livio Loi in the last corners.
Uncharacteristically for a Rookies race, three riders dominated right from the early stages on the sweeping curves of this classic circuit. Loi was first to make the break and he looked like he was going to be able to take the advantage right through to the checkered flag. Also in the three-way mix was championship leader Florian Alt of Germany who finally had to settle for third.
But it was Hanika who prevailed in what was a perfect display of tactics going into the final stages of the race. Playing the home track card, he tucked in behind Loi to take advantage of the slipstream and planned his move. Then several corners before the completion of the race, he grabbed the advantage and made it stick.
It was a fine race for Loi, the young Belgian rider who had also had some previous experience in another competition in the Brno circuit. Alt’s third place handed him another bundle of points to further extend his lead in the competition while his main rivals Scott Deroue and Philipp Oettl finished nine and ten after duking it out in a tight following pack of seven riders.
Hanika has the chance to make it a double when the Rookies tackle their second race of the weekend on Sunday on this circuit as the competition moves into the final stages. Another win would mean handy points for the young Czech rider who is currently fourth in the standings.
Rookies race once at Misano in September and the season completes with another double race program at Spain’s Aragon circuit at the end of that month.
Results Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Brno
All riders on KTM 125 RR machines
1. Karel Hanika (CZ), 31:20.509 min
2. Livio Loi (B), +0.060 sec
3. Florian Alt (D), +1.282
4. Marcos Ramirez (E), +5.994
5. Lukas Trautmann (A), +6.082
6. Jorge Martin (E), +6.083
7. Bradley Ray (GB), +6.198
8. Lorenzo Baldassarri (I), +6.385
9. Scott Deroue (NL), +6.390
10. Philipp Oettl (D), +6.454
Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup after 11 of 15 rounds
1. Alt, 173 points
2. Deroue, 155
3. Oettl, 140
4. Hanika, 112
5. Ramirez, 110
Home win for Karel Hanika in Brno
Hanika edges closer to Loi in the closing stages
Red Bull Rookies tackle Brno circuit on KTM 125 RR bikes