Danny Kent did everything he could today during the final race of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Kent won today's race, but Jake Gagne won the 2010 Red Bull Rookies Cup Championship.
Kent needed the race win to put the pressure on Gagne, but the Californian didn't crack, and ended up with a second place finish, enough to secure the championship. Kent tried to slow the race down, creating a bunch up at the front of the pack, but none of the other riders could find there way passed Gagne.
“I realized what he was trying to do,” said Gagne. “He's clever and he needed to try and get the other guys between us. I gust kept my head down and knew that as long as I was close to him I had a good chance of getting the points I needed.”
Kent rode a phenomenal race, but it wasn't enough to take the title from Gagne.
“I knew that I needed to get some other guys between us, just 2 was enough so I played it every way I could,” Kent said. “But Jake was just too good today and all credit to him he rode a great race. I did everything that I could, won the race but it wasn't enough. It's been a great season with a lot of great battles.”
Daijiro Hiura finished third for the race, and took third in the overall standings.
Gagne started from tenth on the grid, but after the first lap was up competing with the top five riders. Gagne is Red Bull Rookies veteran, and is at the start of a promising career.
“I started with the Rookies Cup in the US 3 years ago and then with these 2 years in the Rookies Cup in Europe I have learned so much, not just the great GP tracks I've ridden on but so much about riding from the great coaches, Gustl (Auinger), Kevin (Schwantz) and Raul (Jara) and talking to the media, just everything to help me with my career.”
Red Bull Rookies Cup - Race Results
1. Danny Kent (GBR) 30 minutes 59.551 seconds (139.082)
2. Jacob Gagne (USA) +0.060
3. Daijiro Hiura (JPN) +0.401
4. Kevin Calia (ITA) +0.577
5. Daniel Ruiz (ESP) +1.006
6. Harry Stafford (GBR) +1.055
7. Alessio Cappella (ITA) +1.363
8. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA) +2.189
9. Xavier Pinsach (ESP) +2.258
10. Alan Techer (FRA) +2.753
Red Bull Rookies Cup Final Standings
1. Jacob Gagne (USA) 170 points
2. Danny Kent (GBR) 164
3. Daijiro Hiura (JPN) 125
4. Daniel Ruiz (ESP) 115
5. Brad Binder (RSA) 109
6. Kevin Calia (ITA) 97
7. Harry Stafford (GBR) 79
8. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA) 56
9. Alessio Cappella (ITA) 53
10. Alexander Kristiansson (SWE) 52
