Stunning head-to-head victory for Oliveira at Assen in Red
Rookies Cup
 Miguel
Oliveira, just 13, won his second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies
Cup race in seven days at the Dutch circuit of Assen riding
superbly to charge from seventh after one lap to victory at
the chequered flag.
The young Portuguese stole the lead from 15-year-old German
Daniel Kartheininger with just three laps to go. Kartheininger
then crashed leaving Norway's Sturla Fagerhaug to take second
in a last corner fight with third placed Matthew Hoyle. Daijiro
Hiura of Japan was fourth.
Oliviera's Glory Day
The day belonged to Oliveira and he had never seen Assen before.
"It is a very difficult track and certainly I learnt
from the other riders in the race. I picked up some good lines
and then I concentrated on being smooth and accurate, using
all the track and not making any mistakes. I didn't make a
good start and we had a big battle with a lot of riders. When
I managed to get through to second I just pushed and pushed
to catch Dani. When I got in front I could see from the big
TV screens that he was chasing me. I just went as fast as
I could, I saw that he wasn't behind me on the last lap but
I didn't know he had crashed."
Salom unlucky
It was not a good day for Cup Leader Luis Salom who ran off
at the second corner complex and rejoined the race dead last.
He eventually finished in seventh position to retain his championship
leadership. This gave American JD Beach the Cup lead after
he had settled into second place in lap four only to slide
off two laps later to be eighth at the flag. "The front
end just folded on me." said Beach. "I tried to
prop it up on my elbow and I almost got away with it but then
it went away. I just picked the bike up as quick as I could
and raced after the guys to get the points."
Results
1. Miguel Oliviera, Portugal, 29:46.585
2. Sturla Fagerhaug, Norway, 29:50.116
3. Matthew Hoyle, Britain, 29:50.576
4. Daijiro Hiura, Japan, 29:50.639
5. Florian Marino, France, 29:56.518
Standings
1. Luis Salom, Spain, 129 points
2. JD Beach. USA, 119
3. Sturla Fagerhaug, Norway. 97
4. Daijiro Hiura, Japan, 76
5. Nelsom Major, France, 68
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