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KTM RC 390 CUP
VENTUR
Ventura put in an exceptional performance throughout Friday’s sessions as he battled through
bike issues, coming away with the sixth fastest time in the first qualifying in order to place him at the back of the second row of the grid. The Californian managed a 2:51.597, placing him in close contention with a lot of the other heavy hitters in the class as he prepared to do battle in the first race. Unfortunately, bike problems that were out of his control held him back from competing in the opening race and he was forced to watch from the sidelines, but that only provided him with extra motivation for the second race. Ventura got a good jump as the lights went out and immediately placed himself in contention for the lead, challenging Jackson Blackmon and Benjamin Smith throughout the first couple of laps. He had a noticeable advantage coming off the corners as he was able to get a superior drive on his competitors, allowing him to utilize the slipstream to near perfection to overtake at will. Ventura put himself in the best possible position at the start of the final lap as he made a move into the lead under braking in turn five, holding off the pressure from behind him. The Californian lost a couple of spots down the back straightaway, but he remained undeterred and utilized the slipstream at the last gasp of the race in order to out-drag Smith at
the line, clinching second place in the process. It was an emotional win for the young gun as he claimed the first podium finish of his MotoAmerica carer and he’ll undoubtedly be looking for more as the series heads west towards his home state in the coming months.
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CORY VENTURA
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