Half distance approaches in the 2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with the 5th of 10 races held this weekend in Mugello. Just 8 points separate leader Luis Salom from JD Beach and they will be pressed hard by Daijiro Hiura, who beat them both in Portugal. Being only 13, Japanese ace Hiura had to miss the last round in France but is in action again at the Italian round with a good chance of putting his title attack back on track thanks to the rule that all riders must drop one result from their Cup points total at the end of the season. While he hopes for his second victory 16 year old American Beach is still looking for his first win after taking second in all 4 rounds so far.
Luis Salom showed his determination to hang on to the lead in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup by heading practice for the French round at Le Mans today. The 16 year old Spaniard was chased hard by 17 year old Briton Matthew Hoyle and 15 year old German Daniel Kartheininger but sits on pole for Saturday's race. One of the few who did not actually improve on his first session qualifying time Salom was on a fast lap towards the end of the second session when he slid off unhurt. A sign perhaps that he was riding close to the limit and will not have things his own way in the race as most other riders improved their times on a track that is new to virtually all of them.
The fourth race in the 2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will be contested at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit on Saturday May 17th with double Jerez winner Luis Salom defending a 3 point championship lead over American JD Beach. When 16 year old Salom won at his home Grand Prix in Spain he completely dominated the two race weekend but with only a fourth place at the Portuguese round a month ago he allowed 16 year old Beach to close the gap with a string of three second places.