Crash ends hopes of JuniorGP maiden win for O’Gorman in Portugal
BY GILES SPENCER
giles@slpmedia.co.uk
Erith motorcycle racer Casey O’Gorman suffered more frustration after crashing out of the fight for the lead in the late stages round two of the FIM JuniorGP World Championship at Estoril in Portugal last weekend.
The 16 year old started the weekend strongly setting the fastest time in practice and only dropping slightly to second in the wet qualifying session behind Kiwi, Cormac Buchanan for Sunday’s only race.
Heavy rain before the race meant tyre choice would be a big deciding factor to the outcome of the race as the riders gambled on their setup as the track began to dry.
Away from the lights in tricky, damp conditions, O’Gorman made a cautious start to slot into third into the first corner before retaking his starting position as they entered lap two of ten in the shortened race.
Two laps down and O’Gorman set the fastest lap in second as the youngster chased down leader, Buchanan with the top three pulling away from the rest of the pack.
Six laps to go and Marcus Uriarte squeezed past O’Gorman to demote him to third with the top three now circulating as one.
Only a lap later and the slick tyre mounted Fin, Rico Salmela set the fastest lap of the race as he swiftly caught the front pack and swept in to the lead with O’Gorman still clinging onto third.
With the rapidly drying track O’Gorman should’ve been struggling after choosing to run with a wet front tyre but instead moved into second as he chased down the flying Fin.
Two laps to go and O’Gorman set the fastest lap, yet again, as he closed onto the back of Salmela but disaster struck as he pushed a little too hard and lost the rear end which spat him over the bars out of turn four, sending him tumbling into the gravel trap.
O’Gorman drops to eighth in the championship, still 26 points behind leader Jesus Rios who finished outside the points.
The series moves onto Catalunya in Barcelona on the weekend of 17-19 May.
Photos: @Lifebelucky (Instagram)
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