O’Gorman back to his best as he tops the podium in European Talent Cup

BY GILES SPENCER
giles@slpmedia.co.uk

Erith teenager Casey O’Gorman had the ride of his life to secure his first European Talent Cup win in round seven at Aragon in Spain last weekend.

The 15 year old was on form from the first session of the weekend, topping the timing sheets in practice before qualifying his NSF250R Honda in sixth on the outside of the second row.

With the first of Sunday’s two races taking place in sunny 24 degree temperatures, O’Gorman launched his VisionTrack Academy machine off the line to move into third place by the end of the first of 14 laps.

Pole man Max Martinez was checking out at the front but O’Gorman was in a close battle for second in a breakaway group of three with Italian Guido Pini and championship leader Joel Esteban.

Nine laps to go and just as O’Gorman drafted past Pini down the back straight to move into second, the red flags came out after Briton Evan Belford crashed heavily bringing down another rider.

With the restart being a five lap dash to the flag, O’Gorman from second on the grid timed the lights perfectly to lead into the first corner.

Unlike the first part of the race, the pack stuck together with O’Gorman involved in a five way battle for the lead.

Final lap and O’Gorman showing real pace moves into third before slipstreaming Pini down the back straight before being mugged by Spaniard Brian Uriarte in the final corner to be pushed back to fourth at the chequered flag.

Second and last race of the day and O’Gorman again made a lightning start, moving up to second by the end of 14 laps before immediately taking the lead into turn one.

Within a couple of laps a seven rider train had broken clear from the chasing pack with O’Gorman constantly swapping podium places.

Six laps to go and O’Gorman hit the front for the first time since the second lap with Pini right up his tail pipe.

Three laps to go and O’Gorman went from first to third in the blink of an eye but it was anyone of five riders for the win.

Entering the final lap and things weren’t going to plan as O’Gorman got bumped down to fifth but the youngster had looked fast and menacing all race and took no prisoners as he sliced through the other riders to take the lead down the 1km back straight, keeping a tight line in the final corner to hold off Pini to the line to take his maiden win by 0.008 seconds.

“It feels amazing (to be an ETC winner). After race one I was really annoyed with myself because I messed up the last lap and the last corner and missed out on a podium but to come out with a win is just so good. I want to thank all my sponsors and my mum and dad.”

O’Gorman has risen up to 4th place in the championship on 105 points, 40 points off new leader Pini with one race to go at the Circuit Ricardo Torno in Valencia on the 30th October.

Photos: manutormo