Djim Ulrich, a 15-year-old from the Netherlands, started Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup & World Final Race Two from deep in the 32-rider grid but came through at the very end to win the race and with it the KTM RC390 Cup World Championship.
Ulrich’s prize for winning the World Championship was a brand new KTM RC390 streetbike plus a day of coaching from KTM’s factory Moto3 World Championship riders.
Braeden Ortt, a 15-year-old Canadian riding for the team from MotoAmerica, raced for the lead from the start to the final corners, but Ulrich passed Ortt and his teammate Hayden Schultz coming out of the last corner and won by just 0.008 second. Ortt ended up second in the race and third in the final World Championship, which earned him the free use of a KTM RC390 Cup racebike for the 2016 season.
Hayden Schultz, an 18-year-old American, passed Ortt for the lead heading into the penultimate corner, but after the final shuffle, Schultz finished the race third, just 0.102 second behind Ulrich.
Sean Kelly, the 13-year-old from Florida who races in Mexico’s KTM RC390 Cup because he is too young to race the KTM RC390 Cup in MotoAmerica, battled for the lead for all eight laps but crossed the line fourth, only 0.127 second behind the winner. Kelly’s win in Race One combined with his fourth place in Race Two gave him second in the World Championship, which earned him free use of a KTM RC390 Cup racebike for the 2016 season plus a day of coaching from KTM’s factory Moto3 riders.
Gage McAllister, the 20-year-old who won the 2015 MotoAmerica KTM RC390 Cup Championship, took the checkered flag 1.618 seconds behind the winner of Race Two, but in this equally-matched field that netted him 13th place. After the race, McAllister said he was unable to draft by any other riders during the race.
Justin McWilliams, a 22-year-old American, crashed out of Race Two without injury. McWilliams told Roadracingworld.com that he wasn’t sure why he crashed.
Anthony Mazziotto III, a 15-year-old American, finished fifth in Race One but he failed to complete a lap in Race Two. On the opening lap, Mazziotto came together with another rider while fighting for a position at the front and crashed. Mazziotto suffered injuries to the fingers on his right hand, but walked away from the incident.
One second covered the top 11 finishers in Race Two, and the top 15 riders were separated by just 1.9 seconds.
Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup & World Final
Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, England
October 4, 2015
Provisional Race Two Results (all on KTM RC390s and Metzeler tires):
1. Djim Ulrich, Netherlands, W, 8 laps, total race time 20:56.195, best lap time 2:35.901
2. Braeden Ortt, Canada, W, -0.008 second, 2:35.759
3. Hayden Schultz, USA, W, -0.102, 2:35.385
4. Sean Kelly, USA/Mexico, W, -0.127, 2:36.072
5. Kevin Keyes, UK, W, -0.205, 2:35.289
6. Cameron Fraser, UK, W, -0.314, 2:34.626
7. Lee Hindle, UK, -0.370, 2:34.999
8. James Nagy, UK, W, -0.633, 2:34.921
9. Patrik Pulkkinen, Finland, W, -0.842, 2:35.724
10. Joep Overbeeke, Netherlands, W, -0.866, 2:35.370
11. Dennis Stelzer, Germany, W, -1.044 seconds, 2:35.770
12. Toni Erhard, Germany, W, -1.573, 2:35.015
13. Gage McAllister, USA, W, -1.618, 2:35.809
14. Vili Virtanen, Finland, W, -1.688, 2:35.775
15. Finn de Bruin, Netherlands, W, -1.939, 2:35.044
16. Maximillian Sohnius, Germany, W, -11.717, 2:36.534
17. Marco Fetz, Germany, W, -32.054, 2:38.280
18. Thomas Airey, UK, -56.736, 2:42.476
19. Reece Guyett, UK, -56.814, 2:42.441
20. Adam Phipps, UK, -58.012, 2:42.426
21. Sam Lyon, UK, -73.832, 2:42.576
22. Leonardo Carnevalli, Italy, W, -74.461, 2:44.935
23. Ewan Potter, UK, -74.861, 2:43.836
24. Kieran Styles, UK, -135.608, 2:51.853
25. Robert Schotman, Netherlands, W, -2 laps, DNF, crash, 2:35.765
26. Thomas Strudwick, UK, W, -3 laps, DNF, crash, 2:35.133
27. Justin McWilliams, USA, W, -5 laps, DNF, crash, 2:36.818
28. Anthony Mazziotto III, USA, W, -8 laps, DNF, crash, no lap time recorded
29. Aaron Wright, UK, -8 laps, DNF, no lap time recorded
30. Sasha de Vits, Netherlands, W, -8 laps, DNF, crash, no lap time recorded
31. Jirka Mrkyvka, Germany, W, -8 laps, DNF, no lap time recorded
32. Chris Taylor, UK, W, -8 laps, DNS
Provisional World Final Championship Point Standings (after 2 of 2 races):
1. Ulrich, 45 points
2. Kelly, 38
3. Ortt, 36
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Riders Fare Well
Podium Spots For North Americans In England
COSTA MESA, CA – The MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup racers who ventured to Great Britain, October 2-4, did their National Series proud by putting two different riders on the podium in the two thrilling KTM RC Cup World Finals races at the Silverstone Circuit in East Midlands.
The North Americans were led in their battle against the world’s best KTM RC Cup racers by Braeden Ortt, the 15-year-old Canadian who ventured to England fresh off his third-place finish in the MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship. Ortt put his RC 390 on the podium in both races, finishing third on Saturday and second on Sunday to end up third overall in the World Championship. Ortt was just .008 of a second from winning Sunday’s final after coming up just .450 of a second from victory on Saturday. Hayden Schultz, who finished fourth in the 2015 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Series, was also on the podium on Sunday after finishing a close third.
“This race was very close, much closer than Saturday,” said Ortt, who was racing with broken bones in his right hand after crashing during practice in the MotoAmerica finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, after Sunday’s race. “Unfortunately, there were a few more crashes. Hayden (Schultz) redeemed himself. It always makes me proud to see North America represented well.”
Ortt had a plan for the race, he said, but “instincts kicked in and I completely abandoned my plan. What I didn’t plan for was getting stuffed in the very last corner. I thought I won so I was super pumped. That was a bit of a disappointment, but I can’t complain about two podiums and third overall in the World Championship.”
Sunday’s race was the closest of the two with the top 10 separated by just .866 of a second.
Schultz started Sunday’s race from pole position after recording the fastest lap in Saturday’s finale. But he didn’t take advantage of his starting position.
“I was fifth or so going into the first turn,” he said. “Down the straightaway, there was a big drafting battle. Luckily I was able to avoid all the bikes and bodies flying around.”
But, as he did the day before, Schultz eventually found the lead.
“I wasn’t sure how that last lap was going to go,” he said. “I ended up third on the back straightaway and was able to draft Braeden and lead out of the last turn. I got passed, but I ended up on the podium so I can’t complain.”
After finishing fifth in Saturday’s race, Anthony Mazziotto didn’t complete a lap on Sunday, the New Jersey resident getting hit from behind. Unfortunately, the 15 year old suffered three broken fingers in the incident.
“I had a lot of fun, and hopefully next year we can move up and ride something bigger, like an (Yamaha) R6 or a (Suzuki) Gixxer 600,” he said despite the setback. “Superstock 600 with MotoAmerica is the plan. Maybe the KTM again, as well.”
MotoAmerica’s KTM RC Cup Champion Gage McAllister crashed out of Saturday’s race but ended up 13th on Sunday after starting from the ninth row of the grid. He was just 1.6 seconds behind race-winner Ulrich.
“I just wanted to make it through the first few laps and continue my push toward the front,” McAllister said. “It was working. Halfway through the race, I found myself at the back part of the front group.
The fifth rider in the MotoAmerica group was Justin McWilliams, but the 22 year old ended up crashing out of both races.
“I don’t know if I was off line, where there was less grip, leaned over too far, or too hard on the brakes,” he said about Sunday’s tumble. “This stuff happens. I just have to come back next season and do better.”
Saturday’s race was won in impressive fashion by 13-year-old Sean Kelly with the Floridian backing up that result with a close fourth on Sunday. Kelly was representing Mexico in the race after competing in that country’s 2015 RC Cup Series because he was too young to meet MotoAmerica’s minimum age of 14 for the KTM RC Cup.
“In America, you have to be 14 to race (in MotoAmerica’s KTM RC 390 Cup class),” Kelly explained following the podium ceremony on Saturday. “We saw an opportunity in Mexico, where you only have to be 13.”
World Finals Race 1
1. Sean Kelly (MEX)
2. Dijm Ulrich (NED)
3. Braeden Ortt (USA)
4. Robert Schotman (NED)
5. Anthony Mazziotto III (USA)
6. Patrik Pulkkinen (FIN)
7. Thomas Strudwick (GBR)
8. Sasha de Vits (NED)
9. Dennis Stelzer (GER)
10. Joep Overbeeke (NED)
World Finals Race 2
1. Dijm Ulrich (NED)
2. Braeden Ortt (USA)
3. Hayden Schultz (USA)
4. Sean Kelly (MEX)
5. Kevin Keyes (GBR)
6. Cameron Fraser (GBR)
7. Lee Hindle
8. James Nagy (GBR)
9. Patrik Pulkkinen (FIN)
10. Joep Overbeeke (NED)
More, from a press release issued by KTM North America:
North American Riders Impress at KTM RC Cup World Final at Silverstone
15-year-old Braeden Ortt Leads The Way With Third Overall on World Stage
SILVERSTONE, UK – The inaugural KTM RC Cup World Final took place at the historic Silverstone Race Circuit in the U.K., where the top five finishers of the U.S.-based MotoAmerica RC Cup Series represented KTM North America against the best young racers in the world. Fifteen-year-old Braeden Ortt topped the American squad with two podium finishes, claiming third overall in the global finale.
“It was an amazing race with close finishes and tight battles,” Ortt said. “Unfortunately a couple of the Americans crashed out but all-in-all it was a great experience and I can’t thank KTM enough for allowing us to come to Silverstone and showcase our talents on the world stage.”
It was 15-year-old Anthony Mazziotto III who led the North American squad into the first race after placing second in Saturday’s timed qualifier. With a front row start, Mazziotto jumped into a favorable position on the opening lap, where he was joined by Canadian teammate Braeden Ortt in a battle for podium positions.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Hayden Schultz experienced an issue on the grid that ultimately caused him to start the race from pit lane. From the last place position, Schultz passed his way into the top ten well before the halfway point, eventually overtaking the lead near the end of the race.
However, with one lap to go Schultz encountered a collision with two riders that ultimately removed him from the race. Ortt held strong to finish third place in race one.
Around the halfway point, Mazziotto made a mistake that caused him to run off the track and lose several positions. In the end, the New Jersey native was able to fight his way back to a fifth place finish in race one.
“It was really cool to lead the fastest racers in the world around Silverstone,” Mazziotto said. “Unfortunately I made a major mistake that put me back 15th but I was really happy to make it back to fifth.”
The 20-year-old MotoAmerica RC Cup Champion, Gage McAllister, experienced bad luck in race one where he tangled with another rider and crashed on lap two. Twenty-two-year old Justin McWilliams underwent a crash on lap four, where he was unable to finish the race as well.
Despite an unlucky end to race one, Schultz was able to put in the fastest lap of the race to earn pole position on Sunday’s grid. Schultz led the way for the American squad in race two, followed closely by Braeden Ortt on the opening lap. The duo battled for the lead throughout the entire eight-lap race, where Ortt finished second and Schultz in a close third.
“Overall it was a pretty solid weekend,” Schultz said. “Qualifying didn’t go how we wanted it to but we powered through and ended strong with a podium finish. I would like to thank KTM USA for stepping up and giving us this opportunity!”
McAllister finished 13th in race two, while Mazziotto and McWilliams experienced crashes that ended their day early.
“Despite the results, I had a blast racing the World Final with my American teammates and the experience will last a lifetime,” McAllister said. “Just to be here in the U.K. and racing with the best in the world is pretty awesome.”
“The racing at Silverstone was very intense and a lot of fun,” McWilliams said. “I ended up crashing in both races, which was disappointing, but it was a great experience to race here and I’m really thankful that KTM made it all happen.”
KTM North America congratulates all RC Cup participants and their respective countries for a hard-fought weekend of racing.
For more information on the U.S. KTM RC Cup series, please visit www.ktmrccup.com.
KTM RC Cup World Final – Race 1
Silverstone Race Circuit
1. Sean Kelly (MEX)
2. Dijm Ulrich (NED)
3. Braeden Ortt (USA)
4. Robert Schotman (NED)
5. Anthony Mazziotto III (USA)
6. Patrik Pulkkinen (FIN)
7. Thomas Strudwick (GBR)
8. Sasha de Vits (NED)
9. Dennis Stelzer (GER)
10. Joep Overbeeke (NED)
DNF Hayden Schultz (USA)
DNF Justin McWilliams (USA)
DNF Gage McAllister (USA)
KTM RC Cup World Final – Race 2
1. Dijm Ulrich (NED)
2. Braeden Ortt (USA)
3. Hayden Schultz (USA)
4. Sean Kelly (MEX)
5. Kevin Keyes (GBR)
6. Cameron Fraser (GBR)
7. Lee Hindle
8. James Nagy (GBR)
9. Patrik Pulkkinen (FIN)
10. Joep Overbeeke (NED)
11. Dennis Stelzer (GER)
12. Toni Erhard (GER)
13. Gage McAllister (USA)
DNF Justin McWilliams (USA)
DNF Anthony Mazziotto III (USA)