Academy riders shine in Brno appearance

The Alpe Adria Cup visit to the Czech Republic last weekend saw Red Bull MotoGP Academy pupil Danny Kent show good form in qualifying, recording the second best time behind local rider Lukas Sembera.

Cameron Beaubier, meanwhile, was back in action alter fracturing his tibia six weeks ago and was straight back on the pace, qualifying fourth – just ahead of the third Academy rider in attendance JD Beach, who secured fifth place on the grid.

For Beach it was a return to the scene where he recently took the 2008 Red Bull Rookies Cup title.

In the race Beach got away well and was leading on lap two when he unfortunately crashed out. The subsequent fight for victory saw Academy representatives Kent and Beaubier battling it out with Sembera, the Czech rider eventually using his local knowledge to good effect as he crossed the line in first place – two seconds ahead of Beaubier.

Indeed, Beaubier had got the better of third place finisher Kent right at the death – but a strange decision by local officials relegated Kent to fourth in the final race classification.

Nonetheless the Academy objective of giving the three young riders more competitive experience had been achieved, with the next stop on their adventure being a trip to the Albacete track in Spain, on 20th-21st September.