Two-Time Race Winner Will Compete In The Red Bull Riders Cup On Sunday

Jake Gagne of Ramona, Calif., won the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. Gagne won his second event in a row in the series for 13-to-16 year-old racers from North and South America, coming out on top in another exciting duel with Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky. The two reprised their Road Atlanta battle and took the race down to the last lap once again as both continuously bettered the fastest lap of the race until the very end.

Both Rookies led the 16-lap race, but Gillim had taken the point shortly after Gagne’s near highside on lap 12. As the final lap around the 2.6-mile circuit began, Gillim led. But Gagne found his way past and the Californian took his second victory in a row by just 0.204 seconds.

“It was really cool to win another race,” said Jake. “Hayden and I had a good battle again and it felt like the Atlanta race all over again. I felt comfortable with the lap times but then I nearly crashed coming onto the straight. I just kept the gas on and I ended up saving it. The pace was hot at the end of the race and I’m really pleased to get the victory again.”

Gagne got a poor start but overcame the odds to get the win. “I think I was next-to-last at the beginning,” said the 15-year-old Gagne.

Gillim made it tough for his new rival, even though he was ill during and after the race. The youngest Rookie, at 13 years old, nearly added to his two wins this season with a valiant effort.

“I caught back up to him and we traded positions,” said Gillim of the late race drama. Hayden tried to make a pass at the flag but came up short. “He got a better drive than me and for me it just wasn’t enough.”

14-year-old Austin DeHaven earned a podium finish with his third place ride. DeHaven charged to the podium with his fantastic race that saw him show both speed and consistency. “I put my head down and tried to see if I could get a podium,” said DeHaven, of Los Angeles, Calif. “Things went my way and the hard work paid off today.”

Tomas Puerta took fourth place despite an injured hand. The Colombian rider’s American base is Indianapolis and he put on a good show on Saturday. “It was tough for me to work the clutch but I wanted to do well,” said Puerta. “I plan on racing tomorrow in the Rider’s Cup event, too.”

Jacob Morman earned his best result yet with a fifth place finish. “The Squirrel” showed great speed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “It was a lot of fun,” he said.

Morman topped championship contender Leandro Mercado of Argentina, who remounted after a crash to earn sixth position, while Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., was seventh after jumping the start from the front row and receiving a ride-through penalty. Canada’s Emerson Connor took eighth despite a crash. Connor spent most of the race in third position. Bryce Prince of Bakersfield, Calif., and Travis Wyman of Macedon, N.Y., rounded out the top ten.

Championship leader Benny Solis did not finish the race but will still retain the series points lead with just the season finale at Laguna Seca to go in two weeks’ time.

Sunday will see the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies take on the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies in the Red Bull Riders Cup, a select team event for the top ten riders from each series. Up for grabs is a beautiful trophy awarded to the winning squad.

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Results From Indianapolis.

1. Jake Gagne (USA)
2. Hayden Gillim (USA)
3. Austin DeHaven (USA)
4. Tomas Puerta (COL)
5. Jake Morman (USA)
6. Leandro Mercado (ARG)
7. Joey Pascarella (USA)
8. Emerson Connor (CAN)
9. Bryce Prince (USA)
10. Travis Wyman (USA)
11. Austin Medrano (USA)
12. Jake Cunningham (USA)
13. Jesse Stevens (USA)
14. Frankie Lee Gillim (USA)
15. Corey Rech (USA)
16. Corey Alexander (USA)
17. Otavio Lucchini (BRA)
18. Garet Tomlinson (USA)
19. Cameron Gish (USA)
20. Benny Solis (USA)
21. Huntley Nash (USA)

Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Points (after nine races)

1. 35 Benny Solis, North Hollywood, California 156 points
2. 69 Hayden Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 142
3. 36 Leandro Mercado, Cordoba, Argentina 131
4. 32 Jake Gagne, Ramona, California 123
5. 12 Tomas Puerta, Medellin, Colombia 86
6. 56 Austin DeHaven, Los Angeles, California 76
7. 25 Joey Pascarella, Vacaville, California 75
8. 50 Emerson Connor, Burlington, Ontario 60
9. 74 Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, California 50
10. 75 Huntley Nash, Marietta, Georgia 42
11. 26 Toriano Wilson, St. Davids, Bermuda 40
12. 66 Jake Morman, Loganville, Georgia 38
13. 34 Corey Rech, Liverpool, New York 37
14. 31 Cameron Gish, Shingle Springs, California 35
15. 13 Jesse Stevens, Lawrenceville, Georgia 31
16. 7 Austin Medrano, Mustang, Oklahoma 31
17.95 Frankie Lee Gillim, Owensboro, Kentucky 28
18. 94 Jacob Cunningham, Kimberly, Wisconsin 28
19. 3 Travis Wyman, Macedon, New York 22
20. 23 Corey Alexander, Ossining, New York 18
21. 11 Luciano Ribodino San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina 6
22. 22 Garet Tomlinson, Aledo, Texas 4
23. 82 Otavio Lucchini, Jundiai, SP, Brazil 1

For more information on the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup, please visit www.redbullrookiescup.com and www.redbullusa.com/rookiescup.

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