Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup - Jerez, Spain
Qualifying Practice Friday March 28th
 Luis
Salom snatched a convincing pole position for the first round
of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Lining up beside the 16
year old Spaniard on the grid on Saturday for the first race
are American 16 year old JD Beach, Cristian Trabalon and Dylan
Mavin.
Particularly impressive is Mavin's 4th place in qualifying
as the 15 year old Australian is taking part in his first
Rookies event while the other three on the front row raced
in 2007. 15 year old Spaniard Trabalon only jumped onto the
front row with his last lap of the day. Mavin crashed half
way through that second 30 minute timed session but got back
to the pits, had the handlebars straightened and went out
again with 5 minutes remaining.
“The position is fine but not the lap time,”
said pole man Salom with a grin. “The track just doesn't
feel to have grip today. We tried a few things with the bike
but that isn't the problem. The bike is great. I am looking
forward to the race.” concluded last year's Assen winner
who was second in Jerez a year ago and lapped over 6 tenths
faster then in practice.
Happier with everything was JD Beach. Last year's Jerez round
was his first ever road race and he has come a long way since
then. “That was a lot of fun. In the first session the
bike started to slide around a lot as the tyres got worn and
I wasn't concentrating that well in the second half of the
session. I knew what I was doing wrong and just made sure
that I concentrated better in the second session. The bikes
good, I'm ready to go racing.”
Heading the second row of the grid on Saturday will be 15
year old South African Mathew Scholtz, another first time
Rookie, who has been quick all through pre season testing.
“I really like this track so I'm having a lot of fun.
We just changed the front suspension a bit but basically the
bike is great. In the second session I didn't go any quicker
but I was just trying a few different lines and things, I'm
happy.”
Finland's 13 year old Niklas Ajo broke his left collarbone
when he crashed in the second timed session. The result of
Saturday's first race of the season will determine the grid
for Sunday's race in this double header opening weekend.
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