Jakub Kornfeil got the best on an intense 5 man battle to take his 3rd race victory of the season and the 2009 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup by 2 points. The 16 year old Czech had to fight all the way with arch rival Sturla Fagerhaug but when the 17 year old Norwegian came together with 15 year old Japanese Daijiro Hiura with three corners to go his chance of battling with Kornfeil across the line disappeared. The 13 lap race closed out the Cardion AB Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Brno. Fagerhaug picked up second place both in the race and the Cup and Californian 15 year old Jake Gagne an excellent third in the race and 6th in the Cup. Hiura crossed the line 4th to hold on to his 3rd in the points table. While the rest talked about what might have been Kornfeil enjoyed his win. “I knew that Sturla was behind me all the way, I looked back and saw it was four riders not 10 like yesterday so I was happy about that. I just rode as hard as I could and even at the last corner I expected Sturla to come past but I guess he wasn’t as close as I thought and I crossed the line on my own.” “It was a hard weekend, there were so many interviews and things to do leading up to yesterdays race that I was feeling the pressure and I found yesterday’s race very tough. Today it seemed easier, less interviews, less friends pushing me and so less pressure. I could ride my race today and I am just so happy to take the Rookies Cup, so happy.” An obviously terribly disappointed Fagerhaug summed it all up. “It was a great race and congratulations to Jakub, he rode very well. I was hit in the third to last corner so I didn’t have the chance to pass him at the line. I thought I was going to be able to win before that happened. I have to blame myself though I had such a big lead in the points half way through and made some mistakes. It’s been a great year though and I still have a couple of GP wild-card rides to look forward too.” Gagne had done his share of leading during the race but admitted that the Cup battle played a part in his thinking on the final lap. “It was a great race, a lot of fun and I sure wanted to win it if I could but they were all going fast and there wasn’t the chance on the last lap. I knew those guys were battling for the Cup and I wasn’t going to do something stupid.” The new lap record went to Hiura but he was 4th across the line. “I enjoyed the race but I’m disappointed not to be on the podium. It all happened on the last lap and I was so fixed on passing the riders in front I was a bit too aggressive and that wasn’t good. I have to congratulate Jakub on his great race today. He was ready to win it and so determined. When I passed him he would pass me straight back at the next corner he had the win in his heart.” A fine ride to 5th by 16 year old South African Mathew Scholtz who had thoughts of a higher place finish. “I was on the back of the group, at times I was having to work hard to stay there but sometimes it was easier and I was looking after my tyres planning to make a move on the last lap. What spoilt was the tight chicane at the bottom of the final climb on the second to last lap. I lost the front and that really messed up my drive up the hill so I started the last lap just too far behind them to do anything about it.” Saturday’s 16 year old winner Florian Marino was disappointed with his 7th place behind fellow Frenchman Nelson Major. I got a good start but after that I just couldn’t find the rhythm and the guys got away from me. I just wasn’t riding as well as yesterday, I could feel that my throttle control just wasn’t quite right and I wasn’t getting the drive off the corners.” Nico Thöni and Alejandro Pardo had a nasty crash on lap one and while the 14 year old Austrian immediately walked away, Pardo, who had been a brilliant 3rd on Saturday took some time before he too emerged uninjured. Hayden Gillim’s bike was damaged in the incident and though he continued he was later forced to retire with broken seat. Alex Kristiansson fell unhurt and Taylor Mackenzie stopped with technical problems. Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Brno, Czech Republic August 16, 2009 Race Results (all on KTM RC125s and Dunlop tires): 1. Jakub KORNFEIL (CZE), 29:11.410, 13 laps 2. Sturla FAGERHAUG (NOR), -0.179 second 3. Jacob GAGNE (USA), -0.550 second 4. Daijiro HIURA (JPN), -0.845 second 5. Mathew SCHOLTZ (RSA), -3.399 seconds 6. Nelson MAJOR (FRA), -9.905 7. Florian MARINO (FRA), -9.934 8. Danny KENT (GBR), -9.976 9. Daniel RUIZ (SPA), -19.940 10. Deane BROWN (GBR), -20.173 11. Arthur SISSIS (AUS), -20.183 12. Kevin CALIA (ITA), -20.239 13. Harry STAFFORD (GBR), -20.409 14. Brad BINDER (RSA), -20.652 15. Benny SOLIS (USA), -20.739 24. Hayden GILLIM (USA), -7 laps, DNF, retired Championship Point Standings (after 8 of 8 races): 1. Kornfeil, 132 points 2. Fagerhaug, 130 3. Hiura, 104 4. Kent, 96 5. Marino, 94 6. Gagne, 84 7. Scholtz, 81 8. Ruiz, 56 9. Kristiansson, 50 10. Pardo, 48 16. Gillim, 13 24. Solis, 6 More, from a press release issued by Jake Gagne’s publicist: JAKE GAGNE EARNS PODIUM TO END RED BULL MOTOGP ROOKIES CUP SEASON Brno, Czech Republic (Aug 16, 2009) — California’s Jake Gagne ended the 2009 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup season in style in the Czech Republic. Jake finished fourth and third in the last two races — leading plenty of laps in a field featuring some of the best teen motorcycle racers in the world — and finished sixth in the season’s points. It was a terrific spring and summer in Europe for the 15-year old American, who improved steadily since the first test of the year and finished the season as a contender for wins. Saturday’s slugfest at Brno featured a nine-rider battle for the win. Jake led several laps and held the lead on the final time around the circuit before finishing fourth. “It was a crazy battle out there and a lot of fun,” said Jake, from Ramona, California. “We had nine guys going for the win, so you can imaging how exciting it was. Maybe some of the guys in the pack didn’t quite have the pace, so they might have slowed us all down a little, but it was good. I led quite a bit including the last lap. I didn’t realize it was the last one at first, and when some riders made some desperate passes on me, I really wasn’t ready for it. I was disappointed but I learned a lesson from it.” On Sunday, Jake earned another podium with a third-place finish. Jake once again ran in the five-rider battle for the lead. “I got a good start again and was at the front. Sturla (Fagerhaug) and Jakob (Kornfeil) were fighting for the championship and I did not want to ruin it for him. The last couple of laps I was trying to ride smart and I made my move in the last corner for third. I was happy to end the season on the podium. All in all, all the riders in the series did a good job at Brno to put on a good show for the fans.” Gagne finished as the top American in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup points, which was one of his preseason goals. “I’m happy with how the season ended and I think I learned a lot this year,” said Jake. “It was a lot of fun.”