Red Bull Rookies Misano: Victory for Cano, Kratochwil gives Heidolf third place

Fynn Kractochwil had struggled in practice during the penultimate weekend of the Red Bull Rookies Cup in Misano, Italy. “It was a tough day,” said the KTM rider, describing his practice session. “I didn’t feel good. I didn’t manage a single good lap and even had a slow sector at the end, so I had to start from the back of the grid.” In the rookies’ series, the penalties for dawdling are clear-cut, and as a result he found himself in last place in the first race on Saturday. From there, the teenager from Thuringia quickly put his tough day behind him and fought his way up to fourth place.

However, he was ultimately classified fifth. He had crossed the track limits on the final lap and had to concede his fourth place to the American Kristian Daniel Jr. On Sunday, the 16-year-old German started the race from his usual 12th place. The Frenchman Guillem Planques started from pole position.

A regular in the leading group

On the first lap, the overall leader Benat Fernandez fought his way to the front, followed by the previous day’s winner, Fernando Bujos. Kratochwil had held onto his 12th starting position. The opening laps were a close-fought battle, featuring numerous overtaking manoeuvres. David da Costa took the lead for the first time this weekend. Kiattisak Singhapong had to serve a long lap penalty and rejoined the field in 15th place.

Kratochwil vor Daniel

Foto: Thomas Seidenglanz

After four laps, Kratochwil had warmed up and, following a brief pit stop whilst in eighth place, had fought his way up to fifth, finding himself right in the thick of the leading group alongside Cano, Benat Fernandez, Bujosa and the Briton Sullivan Mounsey. But as always, things weren’t exactly handled with kid gloves up there. With nine of the 15 laps remaining, the new leader was Fynn Kratochwil. He had taken the lead with a provisional fastest lap of 1:45.310. In his slipstream were Bujosa and Cano, both still in contention for the overall victory, who launched their first attacks after just a few corners. But as always, positions in the leading group were changing back and forth every few seconds.

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Turmoil in the closing stages

As the race wore on, warnings for running wide of the track became more frequent, and the leading group settled into position for the final laps in the battle for the coveted points. Bujosa seemed to have the upper hand, but his rivals refused to let up. Kratochwil, too, was still in with a chance of a trophy, sitting third with three laps to go.

On the final lap, Carlos Cano took the lead but came under intense pressure from Kratochwil and Bujosa. With the numerous overtaking manoeuvres, the commentators quite rightly described the situation as utter chaos. In the final metres, Sullivan Mounsey crashed whilst in the middle of the leading group and skidded past Kratochwil by just a few millimetres. Kiattisak Singhapong was less fortunate and was knocked out of the race by the Briton. After a wild ride through the final bend, Kratochwil crossed the line in third place. Ahead of him were the winner, Carlos Cano, and Kristian Daniel in second place

Happy Birthday

“A mad race,” Kratochwil said afterwards, and quite rightly so. “I’d put myself in a good position; I wanted to win. But then I got knocked back and was in eighth. Then it was ‘all in’ and I tried to overtake as many as possible. That in the final bend was a great save. An incredible race. I’d like to dedicate this third place to my team manager and best friend at the track, Dirk Heidolf, on his birthday.”

Der Siege Carlos Cano

Foto: Thomas Seidenglanz