Recap all the Red Bull Rookies action from Mugello

Red Bull MotoGP 2024 Rookie Cup
Round 3 – Mugello, Italy

Eligible

The sun was out at Mugello as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup qualifying began and it was Alvaro Carpe who fulfilled his potential. The Spanish rider was only 17 until Wednesday but showed plenty of skill as he made the best of the slide and his KTM to become the only rider under 2 minutes over the 5.245km route.

Rico Salmela is just 0.394 seconds slower and 0.040 better than the Spaniard and Cup leader Mãximo Quiles. Brian Uriarte and Valentin Perrone rounded out the top five, followed by Denmark, Pratama, Pugliese, Moodley and Zanni. Young Australian Carter Thompson qualified P13.

Alvaro carpets

“I’ve had a perfect weekend so far, P1, P1, P1. This is my first pole position ever, my feeling with KTM is amazing, just a little nonsense but very good. The Pirelli tires work very well, I really like the track, fast cornering, sharp braking. I hope I can continue my perfect weekend tomorrow. I was running behind the group, I would hang back about 2 seconds and then catch them in the final zone because the slide there is very important. It worked. I barely changed the bike settings, in FP2 I tried a shorter chainring and I had P1 but it didn’t feel right and I went back to the longer chainring for Qualifying.

Qualified results

Race one

The 13-KTM battle for the lead saw points leader Mãximo Quiles edge Brian Uriarte by just 0.004 seconds to win the opening race. Álvaro Carpe took third place, 0.044 off the top step, with the race having less wind and more sunshine, increasing track temperatures and slightly affecting the settings, in which the teenage aces must adjust.

Moodley and Pratama rounded out the top five, followed by Perrone, Danish, Pugliese and Carter Thompson in ninth, who was hit by another rider and fell into a gravel trap, but still made the top 10. Plangues completed the top 10 there.

Quiles Maximo – P1

“The bike didn’t feel the same today as it did in Qualifying. I didn’t feel comfortable from the start and as I pushed I felt like I almost fell and saved it. I said, ‘Yeah, this is going to be a tough race.’ I couldn’t break the group, I tried my best but couldn’t get out. Then going into the last lap it was very close, I was in front, I was overtaken, when we braked, Perrone hit me, I hit Veda and we almost crashed. Then I went on, I passed Brian, it was like a repeat of last year where I was in the lead, I closed the door on the last corner and managed to hold on to the front of the line. I want to thank everyone, I really enjoyed that race.”

Brian Uriarte – P2

“Second is the first loser, I’d rather be third. I could have won today… but I didn’t. But it was still a good race, a difficult race. At the end I was a bit tired, couldn’t hold on to the beam well, and had quite a big blister. I was quite confident throughout the race, I chatted a bit in the last laps but nothing too bad, I have to talk to Aitor (Lafoz, suspension engineer) and see if we should change anything for tomorrow, the track is hotter than Qualifying but it will be cool again tomorrow morning. I thought I learned from yesterday, I thought I put it all together today but we didn’t show it. I tried my best, I tried to pass the last stage but Maximo did something strange, I couldn’t keep up with the flow and couldn’t pass. Those are good points, a good result but tomorrow has to be better. Yesterday I was a bit lost, today I saw the guys in front had some different lines and I learned from that and will use it in Race 2.”

Alvaro Carpe – P3

“It was an incredible race, very fun, a big group with everyone giving their best. I’ve been leading the group in most races and I’m happy with how I went here, fastest of all the sessions yesterday and 3rd today. I was looking to win but a rider hit me in the first corner of the last lap and I had to fight back to the lead in the following corners. P3 is a good result for the championship but tomorrow I have to do better. Today is hotter than yesterday so the bike moves more, but my feeling with the KTM is very good, the Pirelli tires are also good so I don’t think I will change anything for tomorrow.”

Carter Thompson – P9

“I feel really good,” the 16-year-old Australian said. “In the first few laps, I didn’t get as far as I wanted from the start. But I kept going every lap and in the end, I came out on top with the leading group. Unfortunately on the last lap I crashed and ended up in the gravel trap, but overall it was a positive race, a big improvement on last year and the last few races, So I’m really happy with the progress.”

Race Results One

Second race

It was a disappointing second race for Carter Thompson, who crashed out in the first round and was unable to continue after a promising start to the weekend with a top-10 result in race one.

Just two seconds cleared the top 16 KTMs at the end of Mugello Race 2 as Argentina’s Valentin Perrone took his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup win.

Brian Uriarte and Álvaro Carpe took second and third from race one just ahead of Rico Salmela, with Maximo Quiles rounding out the top five.

The Dane leads the rest of the top 10 in sixth place, followed by Zanni, Pratama, Boggio and Pugliese.

Valentin Perrone – P1

“I’m really happy with this first win. What can I say about the race, it was really crazy, there were 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 got by a little bit, then won. Plans for the final round? No, just push like crazy and see what happens. It worked!”

Brian Uriarte – P2

“Second place again, that’s fine, we still got a few points ahead of Maximo. But still the first loser. I was really happy, I enjoyed the race, the last lap I didn’t do very well, I almost finished last in the group, the snake they made on the straight didn’t let me pass so it was quite difficult but I still made a few passes. The last round was the most exciting for me and my favorite, I came out on top. I don’t know what happened in the end, it was a bit crazy, that made me stop for a bit otherwise I think I could have won. But still a good weekend, good results and good for the championship, I have to try a little harder and win next time.”

Alvaro Carpe – P3

“I’m very happy because I enjoyed this race. All the fighting, all the overtaking, it was great to be at the front all the way. The racing was fast and furious, I thought I did well throughout the weekend and got two podiums. I am currently ranked 3rd on the rankings, 13 points behind Maximo. I would like to thank my Family, Friends and everyone who has supported me.”

Carter Thompson – DNF

“Round 3 is now complete at Mugello. Race 2 didn’t end as I wanted, crashing out of the race on the first lap and not being able to finish. I can’t thank the Rookies Cup staff enough for all the help over the entire weekend. I will now return to training and go into the next round in Assen even stronger.”

Race two results

Red Bull Rookies Cup standings

Red Bull MotoGP 2024 Rookie Cup schedule

1. April 27-28 Jerez – Spain
2. May 11-12 Le Mans – France
3. June 1-2 Mugello – Italy
4. June 29-30 Assen – Netherlands
5. August 17-18 Spielberg – Austria
6. August 31 – September 1 Aragon – Spain
7. September 7-8 Misano – Italy