Young French rider Johann Zarco on Saturday snatched victory from Italy's Lorenzo Savadori on the Mugello GP racing circuit in Italy to win the second Red Bull Rookies race for the 2007 season.
Zarco missed a good start but successfully fended off challenges to take victory in an exciting race.
The talented Savadori, just 14 years-old, secured the second place and after winning the first event in Jerez, Spain, solidified his lead in the championship standings. American Kris Turner was third.
The young riders not only had another taste of racing before a huge and enthusiastic GP crowd in a major circuit, they also experienced the fickle nature of the weather. Although the sun came out over the Tuscan racing circuit before the riders crossed the starting line, there was still a lot of water on the circuit and all started with wet weather tyres.
Zarco started on pole but did not put in a good start and settled into a duel with the Spaniard Luis Salon and American Cameron Beaubier. The American, who then hit the front, low-sided in lap 8 of the 14-lap race and thus put himself out of contention.
A battle developed between Zarco and Savadori with the Italian making up ground as the track continued to dry out. Savadori made several attempts to take on Zarco in the final stages but had to settle for second place on the podium at the checkered flag.
"What a race," said Zarco. "At first the battle with Salom, then with Beaubier, then suddenly I had a clear lead and Savadori caught up once again. The race couldn't have gone on for much longer."
Savadori, whose wish it had been to follow up his first victory in the championship with another in Italy, said that despite a well planned race, the wet surface made it difficult to challenge Zarco in the final stages. "In the end I'm pretty happy with second place," he said.
Results:
1) 5 Johann Zarco - KTM - France
2) 32 Lorenzo Savadori - KTM - Italy
3) 38 Kris Turner - KTM - United States
4) 23 Matthew Hoyle - KTM - United Kingdom
5) 36 Stuart Mitchell - KTM - United Kingdom
6) 33 Sturla Borch Fagerhaug - KTM - Norway
7) 9 Lukas Sembera - KTM - Czech Republic
8) 28 Markus Reiterberger - KTM - Germany
9) 35 Christoph Schoenberger - KTM - Germany
10) 73 JD Beach - KTM - United States
11) 22 Cyril Carrillo - KTM - France
12) 66 Robert Gull - KTM - Sweden
13) 6 Peter Sebestyén - KTM - Hungary
14) 12 Javier Cholbi-Pascual - KTM - Spain
15) 52 Adam Blacklock - KTM - United Kingdom
DNF) 69 Lucy Gloeckner - KTM - Germany
DNF) 39 Luis Jaime Salom - KTM - Spain
DNF) 16 Cameron Beaubier - KTM - United States
DNF) 3 Daniel Kartheininger - KTM - Germany
DNF) 11 Jamie Mossey - KTM - United Kingdom
DNF) 92 Cristian Trabalon - KTM - Spain
Standings:
POS. RIDER MANUFACT. NAT. POINTS
1) 32 Lorenzo Savadori - KTM - Italy - 45
2) 5 Johann Zarco - KTM - France - 41
3) 39 Luis Jaime Salom - KTM - Spain - 20
4) 66 Robert Gull - KTM - Sweden - 17
5) 28 Markus Reiterberger - KTM - Germany - 17
6) 33 Sturla Borch Fagerhaug - KTM - Norway - 17
7) 38 Kris Turner - KTM - United States - 16
8) 22 Cyril Carrillo - KTM - France - 16
9) 23 Matthew Hoyle - KTM - United Kingdom - 13
10) 35 Christoph Schoenberger - KTM - Germany - 11
11) 36 Stuart Mitchell - KTM - United Kingdom - 11
12) 92 Cristian Trabalon - KTM - Spain - 10
13) 9 Lukas Sembera - KTM - Czech Republic - 9
14) 7 Deane Brown - KTM - United Kingdom - 8
15) 73 JD Beach - KTM - United States - 8
16) 52 Adam Blacklock - KTM - United Kingdom - 7
17) 3 Daniel Kartheininger - KTM - Germany - 5
18) 12 Javier Cholbi-Pascual - KTM - Spain - 5
19) 6 Peter Sebestyén - KTM - Hungary - 3
20) 16 Cameron Beaubier - KTM - United States - 1
- 11 Jamie Mossey - KTM - United Kingdom - 0
- 69 Lucy Gloeckner - KTM - Germany - 0
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