American Jake Gagne won the 2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title by finishing second to Briton Danny Kent in a fantastic final race at the Misano circuit in Italy. In winning four out of the last seven races, Gagne came into the final race with an 11-point lead over Kent, and only needed to finish third at Misano to clinch the championship. Despite the fact that he only qualified on the back of the third row (while Kent was on pole), Gagne quickly nullified that disadvantage by slotting up into fifth place at the start and finishing the first lap in fourth, while the 16-year-old Kent led up front.
American Jake Gagne (32) chases...
American Jake Gagne (32) chases Briton Danny Kent (52) during the final Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race at Misano.
While Kent clearly had the pace to win, he quickly realized that he needed help if he was to win the title, as Gagne moved into third on lap two behind 17-year-old Australian Josh Hook. Using every trick in the book, Kent slowed the pace down so that others could join the mix and hopefully push Gagne out of that essential third spot. It nearly worked, as Alessio Cappella, Kevin Calia, Daijiro Hiura, Daniel Ruiz, Brad Binder and Harry Stafford all joined the battle at the front.
Typical close action in the...
Typical close action in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race, as Danny Kent (52) tries to slow the pace so that the pack can get between him and eventual champion Jake Gagne (32).
“I realized what [Kent] was trying to do,” said Gagne. “He's clever and he needed to try and get the other guys between us. I just kept my head down and knew that as long as I was close to him I had a good chance of getting the points I needed.”
Kent tried everything. “I knew that I needed to get some other guys between us, just two was enough, so I played it every way I could. But Jake was just too good today and all credit to him, he rode a great race. I did everything that I could, won the race but it wasn't enough. It's been a great season with a lot of great battles.”
Hiura was a little frustrated with third (where the 16-year-old Japanese rider also finished the championship). “We were all so close that I didn't see my pit board and didn't realize it was the last lap. I really wanted to win the last race of the year.”
It was an incredible win after a tough weekend for Gagne, whose engine stopped in the first qualifying session, meaning that he had to go out on an unfamiliar spare bike for second session. “It just didn't feel right and I couldn't do better than 10th in the second session. They put a good engine in my bike for the race and that was a lot better. I wasn't too worried I was pretty sure that if I made a good start I could run with the guys and do what I needed to take the Cup.”
It could have easily turned out much differently if any of the front group got tangled together, as was demonstrated when Hook highsided on lap 8 and 15-year-old South African Binder fell swerving to avoid him. They were just behind the lead trio at the time, luckily neither were hurt, but both were out of the race.
Gagne celebrates his 2010...
Gagne celebrates his 2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title on the podium at Misano.
As he clutched his FIM Cup medal, Gagne looked back on his Rookies Cup experience. “Just about all my roadracing experience has been in the Rookies Cup,” explained the ex-motocrosser. “I started with the Rookies Cup in the US three years ago, and then with these two years in the Rookies Cup in Europe, I have learned so much, not just the great GP tracks I've ridden on but so much about riding from the great coaches, Gustl (Auinger), Kevin (Schwantz) and Raul (Jara) and talking to the media, just everything to help me with my career.”
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Misano race results:
1. Danny Kent (GBR)
2. Jacob Gagne (USA)
3. Daijiro Hiura (JPN)
4. Kevin Calia (ITA)
5. Daniel Ruiz (SPA)
6. Harry Stafford (GBR)
7. Alessio Cappella (ITA)
8. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA)
9. Xavier Pinsach (SPA)
10. Alan Techer (FRA)
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2010 final standings:
1. Jacob Gagne (USA) 170 points
2. Danny Kent (GBR) 164
3. Daijiro Hiura (JPN) 125
4. Daniel Ruiz (SPA) 115
5. Brad Binder (RSA) 109
6. Kevin Calia (ITA) 97
7. Harry Stafford (GBR) 79
8. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA) 56
9. Alessio Cappella (ITA) 53
10. Alexander Kristiansson (SWE) 52