Kiwi Tops the Podium in Spain

Kiwi Tops the Podium in Spain

APRIL 16, 2013: Rangiora’s Jake Lewis stunned onlookers when he finished on the top step of the podium at the opening round of the European Junior Cup in Aragon, Spain, at the weekend.

Sharing the programme as a support class to the World Superbike Championships at Aragon on Sunday, the European Junior Cup is the entry-level class to the World Superbike Championships and is open to riders from all around the world aged between 14 and 19.

All the competitors ride identical Honda CBR500R bikes.

The series is considered a stepping stone to the top level, with the rider who eventually wins the series earning a paid-up ride in a 600cc superstock world championship team.

Racing in the European Junior Cup on Sunday was intense with a leading group of 11 riders locked together throughout.

Lewis eventually won by just the smallest of margins, supporters on their feet as he stole the victory by just 0.003s from Spanish wildcard rider Albert Arenas, the rider who had taken pole position in the preliminary qualifying sessions the previous earlier.

The final podium position went to Italian rider Michael Canducci.

French rider Guillaume Raymond just missed out on the final podium spot by finishing fourth, a fraction ahead of Ilian Fernandez, of Spain, and young Australian Zac Levy ,who grabbed sixth place on the final lap. The top six at the flag were covered by just seven hundredths of a second.

The next race in the eight-round series will take place at Assen, in the Netherlands, in two weeks’ time.

“It was an amazing result to finish P1 at Aragon for the European Junior Cup, it was a super hectic race,” said Lewis.

“With elbows and fairings rubbing, it was awesome, really close to the line and I only won it by 0.003 of a second.

“I raced in Europe last year too and that was a real eye-opener. These European riders are just so fast. It is such a big jump in the level of competition (compared to racing in New Zealand),” said Lewis.

“Well done to the other Kiwi riders too – Connor London, Sam Croft and Blayes Heaven – for their first race in Europe great stuff and I want to say a big thank-you to Stadium Finance, Race Supplies NZ, Charlton Hurrell Drainage, Michael Hill Promotions and to everyone back home for your amazing support it really does help push me along.

“So thanks again and now we just need to do it again at Assen in a couple of weeks.”

Heaven finished 25th, Croft was 26th and London was 27th.

2013 European Junior Cup Calendar:

Round 1: Aragon, Spain, April 14
Round 2: Assen, Holland, April 28
Round 3: Monza, Italy, May 12
Round 4: Imola, Italy, June 30
Round 5: Silverstone, UK, August 4
Round 6: Nurbergring, Germany, September 1
Round 7: Magny Cours, France, October 6
Round 8: TBC

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