Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies: Oettl with perfectly judged win in Silverstone 2

Sunday, 17 June 2012

Philipp Oettl headed the 14 man lead battle when it mattered to cross the line ahead of Scott Deroue and Karel Hanika in the British Grand Prix round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup at Silverstone on Sunday.

The 16 year old German traded the lead throughout the 14 lap race and judged it perfectly at the end to find himself clear while the pack barged elbows into the final complex resulting in 2nd for 16 year olds Deroue from the Netherlands and Hanika from the Czech Republic. Victory gives Oettl the Cup points lead with 89 ahead of Deroue on 87 and Saturday's winner Florian Alt on 83.
German 16 year old Alt had another fine ride to take 4th ahead of Ivo Lopes, Bradley Ray and Lorenzo Baldassarri in a race in which and any one of the 14 at the front could have been on the podium.
Philipp Oettl

"I knew that it would all come down to the last few corners, the left right chicane and onto the start and finish. I practiced doing them perfectly and I knew that if I did that I could win it. That is what I managed on the final lap and it worked out."
Scott Deroue

"On the last lap I just managed to pick up the right slipstream and passed a load of guys coming down the straight and up to the front, then it was just about late braking and holding on to 2nd. Wow that was great."
Karel Hanika

"It was a great race, so much fun. We were fighting all the way and I could get to the front but just couldn't stay there. I am quite tall so I really need the slipstream from the other guys, when I get in front it is a bit too easy for them to catch me."
Races 6 and 7 of the 15 in the Rookies Cup season are at the Dutch TT at Assen on June 29 and 30th.