Stealing the race two victory from arch-rival Màximo Quiles on the last lap, Angel Piqueras took his seventh overall win of the season at round five of the Red Bull Rookies Cup at Assen, in The Netherlands, at the weekend.
His back-to-back wins at Assen as enough points for the 16-year-old Spaniard to secure the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for 2023.
However, it was a mixed weekend at the Dutch GP for New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan (pictured here), who failed to finish race one, after crashing his bike, and he then battled his way to finish ninth in race two at Assen.
“I was feeling strong in the front group and ready to start challenging when, unfortunately, I tucked the front into the notorious chicane. I was unable to rejoin the race due to damage to my bike.
“To say I’m gutted it an understatement. It’s bloody frustrating, especially when I’m giving it my all to try and turn my fortunes around and get the results my family, my team, my sponsors and my fans all deserve.
“All things considered, I am happy with the weekend,” said the teenager from Invercargill.
“A top 10 finish, more valuable points and, most importantly, we saw the chequered flag.
“It was a really difficult race initially. I made a horrible start and it took me a few laps to get into a good pace … all the while being smacked on the head constantly by a flapping windscreen which somehow broke on the first lap.
“I’m happy with the last laps and how I managed the group battle, leading the pack across the finish line.
“No time to rest as I now head to Portimão (in Portugal) for round four of the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP world championship with AGR Racing Team.”
Meanwhile, Piqueras had to fight for victory from first corner to last. Quiles, the 15-year-old Spaniard was determined to make amends for his Saturday fall and did much of the leading often swapping places with fellow countryman Álvaro Carpe who came into the race closest to Piqueras on points.
The 16-year-old Carpe had the front for most of the second half of the race but so intense was the lead battle that he crossed the line 6th.
It was Australian 18-year-old Jacob Roulstone who joined Piqueras and Quiles on the podium, getting the better of Casey O’Gorman and Alberto Ferrandez on the last lap.
Piqueras was perfect but almost not …
“Coming into the chicane on the last lap I thought that Carpe was behind me and I knew that I needed to finish in front of him to take the Cup. So I went as late as possible and passed Quiles,” Piqueras explained.
“Then I caught neutral in the middle of the corner, I was in trouble, I got a gear and got the win, but it nearly didn’t happen.”
“I didn’t think the year would be like this when I injured myself in the off-season. I had to work very hard to be fit. I knew I could race for the win after last year but I didn’t know it would be possible to win so many races.”
“It’s very special and very important for my career to win the Cup and unbelievable to do it like this.”
© Photo courtesy Red Bull Rookies
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