Junior Talent Team have a successful day’s racing in southern Spain
Yuki Kunii is now a race winner in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship, with the Japanese rider taking victory in Race 1 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto as he avoided final corner drama. Kunii, who started fourth, had top pace all weekend and takes home the reward.
There was some disappointment for his teammates in Race 1, with Ai Ogura sadly one of those caught up in the drama at the final corner. Under attack and suffering contact, the 2017 winner at the track was forced out of contention and unable to repeat the feat. Somkiat Chantra, meanwhile, suffered an early fall in Race 1 and was forced into a comeback. The Thai rider managed to do just that though, blasting through from the back to take P12 and some points.
British Talent Team rider Tom Booth-Amos took points, too, after a difficult season affected by injury. Coming home 14th after qualifying just one place behind that, it was a solid showing as he regains some momentum and gets back to fully fit. Gerry Salim had a tougher time of it but battled it out, taking P17 and just coming home shy of the points.
In Race 2, it was a wholly different story but another top finish for the Junior Talent Team, this time courtesy of Ai Ogura. It was all on the line at the final corner once again but this time, the Japanese rider didn’t suffer contact and he crossed the line in second for his top finish of the season so far. Kunii, meanwhile, had another top finish and big haul of points as he came home fourth.
It was a more difficult contest for some of the JTT riders in Race 2. Somkiat Chantra suffered a DNF and he’ll be hoping to bounce back next time out as he wildcards in the Moto3™ World Championship at his home round in Buriram, and Tom Booth-Amos crashed out. Gerry Salim, meanwhile, remains on the hunt for points – with Race 2 seeing him cross the line in P16 after another big group battle.
Next time out we’re heading for Albacete and remain in southern Spain, from the 12th to 14th October.
Alberto Puig: “It was a good weekend, Yuki won Race 1 but Ai was really unlucky, he had it won but then had that problem with Garcia and unfortunately couldn’t finish. But for us he was a clear winner, he went into that corner in first position – but these things happen and you have to accept them. The second race was also very tough with good pace for all riders, and Ai managed to finish second and Yuki fourth. So we’re quite pleased about the weekend and we can see a big improvement, which is the reason we’re here”.
