Just 2 seconds covered the top 16 KTMs across the line at the end of Mugello Race 2 as Argentina’s Valentin Perrone took his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup victory.
Brian Uriarte and Álvaro Carpe matched their 2nd and 3rd places from yesterday just ahead of Rico Salmela. 
Perrone takes incredible victory
“I’m really happy with this first win,” grinned the 16-year-old Argentine who was 2nd in his first Rookies Cup race, the season opener in Jerez and has backed that up with a string of good results. “What can I say about the race, it was really crazy, so many overtakes. Then in the last corner, I don’t know exactly what happened, I think Maximo touched Ruche, I don’t know. I took a little the slipstream then got the victory.”
“The plan for the last lap? No, just push like crazy and see what happens. It worked!”
Uriarte lost again
“Second position again, that’s sort of OK, we still get some points in front of Maximo. But still first loser,” laughed the Spanish 15-year-old after his 4th podium of the season.
“Really I’m happy, I enjoyed the race, the last lap I didn’t do so well, I was almost the last of the group, the snake they made on the straight didn’t allow me to pass so it was quite tough but I still managed to make some passes.”
“The last lap was the most exciting for me and the one I most enjoyed, I got up to the front. I don’t know what happened at the end, it all got a bit crazy, that stopped me a little bit otherwise I think I could have got the win. But still a nice weekend, good results and good for the championship, I have to do just a little bit more and get the win next time.”
Carpe completes very strong weekend
“I am very happy as I enjoyed this race so much,” enthused the 16-year-old Spaniard. “All the battling, all the overtaking, it was great to be running at the front all the way.”
“The race was fast and aggressive, I think I did a good job through the weekend and I got two podiums. Now I am 3rd in the championship, 13 points behind Maximo. I say thanks to my Family, Friends and everyone that supports me.”
Salmela’s Super Sunday
“The start of the race was difficult because I didn’t do yesterday’s race, well I did but only a few corners,” smiled the reserved 16-year-old Finn. “The plan was OK, I tried to be more or less, in P4, P3 for the last lap, I was behind Ruche, it’s not easy to overtake Ruche, he’s good on the brakes.”
“Then through the last corner, at first I wanted to pass on the inside but everyone went to the inside and was slow, I saw a gap and went for it but then almost lost the front mid-corner. Then I went a bit wide but still, I thought I was going to make it to the victory or at least the podium.”
“Then I saw Maximo really close to me, was a surprise, I had to cut the gas a bit and lost. P4 is not bad, I wanted more but…. better than yesterday.”
Màximo Quiles 5th – penalised for incident with Ruche Moodley
“A really difficult race, many people slowing, not wanting to give the slipstream and it was crazy,” stated the 16-year-old Spaniard.
“In the last corner no nobody wanted to push and I pushed, I moved to cut the slipstream and I touched Ruche and I am really sorry for him. It was a really dangerous moment and I’m really sad for him and I want to say sorry.”
Following the race, the FIM Rookies Cup Stewards Panel stated that Quiles was, “found to have caused a crash by swerving into the line of another rider at the exit at Turn 15.”
As a result of this the Panel, “has imposed a Suspension from participation in the Motul TT Assen.”
Hakim Danish in the lead group all the way – P6
“In today’s race I feel better than yesterday,” explained the Malaysian 16-year-old. “I felt more confident in the bike and also with my riding. I was able to run in the front group and be in a good position.”
“It was only in the last lap there was a little bit missing, I lost a couple of positions, then I tried to come back. In the last corner, I tried to grab a good position but finally got P6. I’m looking forward to the next race in Assen.”
Leonardo Zanni steps up to 7th
“I am very happy for my best result in the Rookies Cup,” enthused the Italian 15-year-old “It was a hard race, it’s a long straight here and I don’t seem to pass anyone on the straight, I have to do it all on the brakes and round the corners. So I had to work very hard.”
“In the last lap I was determined, I overtook 2 or 3 riders, then another on the run to the line, I am so happy to do this result at my home race.”
Veda Pratama led – but not at the flag P8
“I’m not happy… this is the result, that is what it is,” reported the disappointed 15-year-old Indonesian. “I made mistakes during the race, I can fight but the result was not good for me. I will try to do better in the next round.”
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