O’Gorman endures tough times in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Austria
Erith motorcycle racer Casey O’Gorman scored a top ten finish but a crash ended podium hopes in the fifth round of the Red Bull Rookies MotoGP Cup at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last weekend.
On his first visit to the circuit in Spielberg, the recently turned 15 year old was quickly up to pace, qualifying his 250cc KTM moto3 machine on the back of the third row in ninth for the weekend’s two races 0.850 seconds off the pole time set by Angel Piqueras.
With dry conditions for Saturday’s race O’Gorman made a solid start to pick up two places to seventh by the end of the first of 17 laps.
By the end of the second lap the front five had made an early break but with O’Gorman now heading the chasing pack this wasn’t to last long and by the end of the next lap the youngster had moved into the top four.
Eight laps to go and with O’Gorman challenging for the lead, disaster struck once again with the schoolboy losing the front wheel whilst hard on the brakes into turn three, bringing an end to his podium hopes.
The race was won by Spaniard Angel Piqueras.
The clouds came over for Sunday’s race but luckily the rains held off as O’Gorman lined up again in ninth for the start of the 17 lap race.
Off the line and O’Gorman didn’t make his usual lightning start, staying in ninth as the race settled down.
Seven laps in and there was an eleven rider train fighting for the lead. O’Gorman moved upto eighth but still not seemingly showing the same pace as the previous day.
Eight laps to go and the top seven had broken clear of the following riders with O’Gorman in a four man fight for eighth, well clear of the rest of the pack.
With three laps remaining Luca Lunetta passed O’Gorman for eighth and broke free to chase down the leading pack, leaving O’Gorman in a dog fight for a top ten finish.
Last lap and O’Gorman had dropped to eleventh but a final push in the last few corners moved the youngster back a place to take a top ten finish by the flag, 5.784 seconds behind winner Tatchakorn Buasri after Max Quiles was given a one place penalty for exceeding track limits in the final corner.
O’Gorman said, “Not the weekend we were hoping for. DNF and P10 but on the plus side looking at lap times and the possibility of a Wildcard Ride in Juinor World Championship at Misano coming up, anything is possible.”
O’Gorman now sits in 8th place in the championship on 80 points, 92 behind leader, Jose Rueda.
The championship moves to the MotorLand Aragon circuit in Spain for the penultimate round on the 17-18th September.
Photos: Red Bull Rookies Cup
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