O’Gorman shows he can mix it with the best in Red Bull Rookies dog fight in Spain

BY GILES SPENCER
giles@slpmedia.co.uk

Erith motorcycle racer, Casey O’Gorman endured two tough races at Jerez in Spain in round two of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to finish just off the podium both times.

Carrying on his form from the opening round in Portimao, O’Gorman was third quickest in Friday’s first practice session, improving to second for the next before dropping slightly to seventh in qualifying to head the third row for race one on the Saturday 0.6 seconds off pole.

With the race taking place in sunny 26 degree conditions, O’Gorman got off the line well to pick up a place into sixth by time they crossed the line for the first lap of sixteen.

In typical Red Bull Rookies fashion the pack is glued together with everyone taking it in turn to post the fastest lap early on.

Three laps later and the teenager was just fighting for the podium with Colin Veijer and Spaniard Maximo Quilez behind the leaders of Jose Rueda and Angel Piqueras.

Two laps to go and O’Gorman ran wide, dropping to sixth in a blink of an eye before quickly recovering to fifth.

Final lap and O’Gorman briefly moved up to third before being dive-bombed at the end of the main straight back into fifth and unable to make a fight back, crossed the line still in fifth, 0.525 seconds behind winner Rueda.

With even hotter 30 degree conditions for Sunday’s race the 14 year old got a flying start to slot into fourth place into the first corner.

Three laps of sixteen down and O’Gorman, sitting in fourth, set the fastest lap of the weekend being the first rider to dip into the 1:49’s.

A couple of laps later and the youngster pulled a fantastic move out of the hat to head the pack before being re-passed at the end of the front straight in a lead that was chopping and changing every corner in a ten rider train.

Final lap and all bets are off as to who will cross the line victor.

O’Gorman, sitting nicely in the front group, took his favoured wide entrance into the corners, unfortunately inviting other riders to dive under him, making his progress to the front even harder with the Irishman finally crossing the line in fifth place, equal to Saturday’s result and only 0.208 seconds off winner, Quiles.

A consolation came in the form of setting the fastest lap of the race, even more impressive when the timing charts showed O’Gorman nearly four mph down on top speed compared to the winner.

O’Gorman said, “Great start to the Season. Third in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Championship after fighting at the front in the first four races, taking two Podiums, two fifth places and a fastest lap.

“Now It’s time to start the European Talent Cup champaign this weekend at Estoril with MLav VisionTrack Academy Visiontrackgp.”

The championship moves to Mugello in Italy for round three over the weekend of the 28th – 29th May.

Photo credit: Red Bull Rookies Cup