MotoGP Rookies: Brno Preview
MotoGP Rookies: Brno preview
American JD Beach enters Brno with a 15-point cushion over Luis Salom of Spain. According to the series rules however, each racers worst race result is discounted from their season totals, trimming Beachs lead to only seven points. With two races at Brno and 25 points going to the winner of each race, Beach will need to be in top form to claim the Rookies Cup.
The 16-year-old Washington State native started the 2008 season with five consecutive second-place finishes before going through a miniature slump with a fifth and an eighth place showing. He picked up his first victory on July 12 at Sachsenring in Germany. Beachs eighth-place finish at last years Brno race was the highlight of his 2007 season which saw him finish 16th in the overall standings.
Salom also had an excellent start to the 2008 season with four wins in his first five races. Like Beach, he then struggled at a pair of races in Donington Park and Assen. Salom, who turned 17 Aug. 7, lost the lead in the season standings after crashing out of the Sachsenring race.
I think that I can win, Brno is a good track and I did OK there last year. I know I must win, says Salom.
Scottish teen Deane Brown will make his return to the race track after completing his recovery from a broken leg suffered May 11 at a British Superbike series 125cc class race at Brands Hatch.
The top ten riders in the final standings will qualify to represent the MotoGP Rookies in the Riders Cup against the AMA U.S. Rookies. Only ten points separate riders eight through 14.
| MotoGP Rookies top 15 standings | |||
| Pos. | Rider | Country | Points |
| 1st | JD Beach | U.S.A. | 144 |
| 2nd | Luis Salom | Spain | 129 |
| 3rd | Sturla Fagerhaug | Norway | 97 |
| 4th | Daijiro Hiura | Japan | 96 |
| 5th | Nelson Major | France | 79 |
| 6th | Daniel Ruiz | Spain | 50 |
| 7th | Miguel Oliveira (guest rider) | Portugal | 58 |
| 8th | Mathew Scholtz | South Africa | 52 |
| 9th | Daniel Kartheininger | Germany | 48 |
| 10th | Jakub Kornfeil | Czech Republic | 47 |
| 11th | Markus Reiterberger | Germany | 44 |
| 12nd | Deane Brown | Great Britain | 42 |
| 13rd | Florian Marino | France | 42 |
| 14th | Matthew Hoyle | Great Britain | 41 |
| 15th | Cristian Trabalon | Spain | 26 |
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