Brad Binder took the first pole position of the 2011 Red Bull Rookies cup today, beating out Philipp Oettl and Alan Techer at the Jerez track.
Binder, 15, is one of the veterans of this year's Rookies Cup. This is Binder's third season in the series, and he'll be a prime contender for the Cup this year. But with 24 other riders on the grid, Binder will have to give it his all at every race.
Binder was just .2 seconds ahead of Oettl, who is in his second season as a Red Bull Rookie. Oettl claimed a best finish of 10th last year, but looks determined to hang up at the front during the 2011 season.
Behind Oettl came Techer who will complete the first row. Techer raced with the Rookies last year, but a broken arm ended his season early.
14 year-old Lorenzo Baldassarri will start the second row. Tomorrow will Baldassarri's debut race with the Red Bull Rookies.
Red Bull Rookies Cup - Qualifying Times
- Brad Binder (RSA) 1 minute 54.297 seconds
- Philipp Oettl (GER) +0.238
- Alan Techer (FRA) +0.429
- Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) +0.708
- Tomas Vavrous (CZE) +0.820
- Florian Alt (GER) +0.893
- Arthur Sissis (AUS) +0.896
- Xavier Pinsach (ESP) +0.909
- Kyle Ryde (GBR) +1.040
- Hafiq Azmi (MAS) +1.444
