Luis Salom showed his determination to hang on to the lead in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup by heading practice for the French round at Le Mans today.

The 16 year old Spaniard was chased hard by 17 year old Briton Matthew Hoyle and 15 year old German Daniel Kartheininger but sits on pole for Saturday's race.

One of the few who did not actually improve on his first session qualifying time Salom was on a fast lap towards the end of the second session when he slid off unhurt. A sign perhaps that he was riding close to the limit and will not have things his own way in the race as most other riders improved their times on a track that is new to virtually all of them.

Salom did not see it like that and was in confident mod despite the low impact crash. “Until the end everything was great. The bike is really good and I was really enjoying myself. The crash was just my fault, it slid away from me when I was going for a fast lap. I'm looking forward to the race though, I think it is possible that I can pull away like I did in Jerez.”

Two of the Frenchman who have a little track experience were 4th and 5th fastest. 15 year old Nelson Major has had a single race at Le Mans and was happy to be doing so well at his home event in his first Rookies season. “That's OK but I really wanted to go faster at the end but I had three big slides, almost highsided. I guess the rear tyre was quite worn by then.”

Fellow countryman, 14 year old Florian Marino, is also just having his second race at Le Mans and felt the same way. “It is great, I feel a lot better than at the first races and I just made a few changes to the suspension during the practice and I think I can have a good race.”

Hoyle is equally sure that the race could be very exciting. “I like the track, it seems more like British tracks somehow. We had to sort out a couple of things with the bike but then I could go faster and I'm really happy with it now. It should be a good race, I just need to make a good start.”

It is quite a change for Hoyle who has not had much luck so far this year. The same could be said of third fasted Kartheininger. “I like the track, I don't know why, I just do. The bike feels good and so do I. My confidence just seems to have come back. The start of the year wasn't good with the crash but now I am enjoying it again.”

© CAPSIS International