The final day of preseason
testing for the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup wrapped up at Barber
Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday. 15-year-old Tomas
Puerta of Medellin, Colombia, turned in the fastest lap at the test and
13-year-old Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky., won the exciting 15-lap
mock race.
Puerta turned in his fastest lap
of the weekend (1:35.113) in the simulated race, one that saw a
six-rider pack fight for the front. Those top six riders were all within
0.7 seconds on the timing charts, but the smooth Colombian racer emerged
as the quickest. "The competition was very tough out there, so I am
quite happy to have earned the fastest lap of the test," said
Puerta. "Getting to ride this track in close quarters with my
fellow racers was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it for real this
weekend. I'm happy with the progress I am making with my riding."
Gillim crossed the line before
any other rider in the simulated race. After an early red flag caused a
restart, Gillim got a good jump off the line and ran near the front for
all 15 laps. "We were out there just having fun," said Gillim.
"We had a good time out there, seeing what we can do and making
some crazy passes. I don't know how serious everyone was but the lap
times were pretty quick. I'd like to do this again next Sunday, but I
think some of these guys might be looking for a different result."
Rookies Benny Solis of North
Hollywood, Calif., Leandro Mercado of Argentina, Joey Pascarella of
Vacaville, Calif., and Toriano Wilson of Bermuda joined Gillim and
Puerta in the lead pack of the simulated race.
13-year-old Solis finished
second, but said he was looking for race strategy rather than a
super-fast time. "I was trying not to show too much out
there," said Solis. "I dropped back from first to sixth a
couple of times because I didn't want to show all my lines."
"It makes me excited for
this weekend," said Mercado, age 16. "There are lots of kids
in the lead group who are very fast, and it's tough to keep your
position. I think the fans will like our race here on Sunday."
"It was a blast," said
15-year-old Pascarella, who took fifth place. "I don't know how
serious everyone was about winning but the guys out there were trading
it up quite a bit."
Wilson ran with the lead group
much of the session but crashed when his footpeg ground out on the track
surface. He remounted to take 12th spot in the simulated race.
Jesse Stevens of Lawrenceville,
GA, finished sixth, while Emerson Connor of Burlington, Ontario, Canada,
was seventh and just under half a second behind Stevens. Jake Gagne
(Ramona, Calif.), Cameron Gish (Shingle Springs, Calif.), and Frankie
Lee Gillim (Owensboro, Ky.) rounded out the top ten.
16-year-old Otavio Lucchini
proved his toughness this test. Otavio crashed in the morning session,
bringing out the red flag. The Brazilian highsided near turn six and was
sore after his crash, but was determined to continue testing. Otavio,
who hails from Sao Paulo and is the tallest of the Rookies, has gained
momentum in the previous tests and has moved steadily up the time charts
of late. Unfortunately, he crashed again in the simulated race but says
he will be ready to go this weekend.
In the morning session, Solis
(1:37.584) was the quickest, followed by Frankie Lee Gillim and Puerta.
Travis Wyman and Austin DeHaven rounded out the top five.
"I was a little disappointed
by the number of crashes we had out there today," said Rider Coach
Kevin Schwantz. "One thing I do like is that the racers are willing
to mix it up and are learning from each other. I'm pleased with the
progress everyone is making, and I want to see the entire field within a
three-second gap. I think we're ready to race this weekend."
The Rookies will race in support
of the AMA Superbike event this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.
Simulated Race Results - Barber
Motorsports Park, Tuesday April 15, 2008
1. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro,
Kentucky
2. 35 Benny Solis, North
Hollywood, California
3. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba,
Argentina
4. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin
Colombia
5. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville,
California
6. 13 Jesse Stevens,
Lawrenceville, Georgia
7. 50 Emerson Conner, Burlington,
Ontario, Canada
8. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona
California
9. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle
Springs, California
10. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim,
Owensboro, Kentucky
11. 11 Luciano Ribodino,
San Francisco, Argentina
12. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids,
Bermuda
13. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield,
California
14. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo,
Texas
15. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta,
Georgia
16. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining,
New York
17. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New
York
18. 94 Jacob Cunningham,
Kimberly, Wisconsin
19. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New
York
20. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville,
Georgia
21. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai,
SP, Brazil
22. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los
Angeles, California
23. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang,
Oklahoma
Fastest Laps - Barber Motorsports
Park, Tuesday April 15, 2008
1. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin
Colombia 1:35.113
2. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro,
Kentucky 1:35.237
3. 35 Benny Solis, North
Hollywood, California 1:35.248
4. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville,
California 1:35.250
5. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba,
Argentina 1:35.293
6. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids,
Bermuda 1:35.808
7. 50 Emerson Conner, Burlington,
Ontario 1:36.877
8. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New
York 1:36.946
9. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle
Springs, California 1:37.037
10. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield,
California 1:37.328
11. 13 Jesse Stevens,
Lawrenceville, Georgia 1:37.332
12. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los
Angeles, California 1:37.374
13. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville,
Georgia 1:37.806
14. 95 Frankie Lee Gillim,
Owensboro, Kentucky 1:37.859
15. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New
York 1:38.039
16. 11 Luciano Ribodino, San
Francisco, Argentina 1:37.896
17. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona
California 1:38.039
18. 94 Jacob Cunningham,
Kimberly, Wisconsin 1:38.052
19. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo,
Texas 1:38.283
20. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai,
SP, Brazil 1:38.746
21. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta,
Georgia 1:39.945
22. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang,
Oklahoma 1:40.203
23. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining,
New York 1:40.759