José Antonio Rueda, FIM JuniorGP™ World Champion
- The Andalusian driver mathematically took the title at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli after crossing the checkered flag second.
- His teammate Ángel Piqueras also got on the podium, in third position, after completing one of his best races of the year.
- “With this world title we have reached the best moment of recent years. And I am sure that we are going to continue along this line thanks to the support of Estrella Galicia 0,0, Motul and the rest of the sponsors”, says Jaime Serrano, CEO of the team.
At just 16 years old and after a season as a true leader, scoring points in each and every one of the races held to date, José Antonio Rueda was proclaimed world champion of the FIM JuniorGP™ with one more podium in his account, the eighth of the year. A more than deserved result for the rider from Los Palacios and Villafranca (Seville), who at the famous Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli shared the podium with his teammate Ángel Piqueras, third, in a weekend to frame and celebrate in the Team Galician Star 0.0. After the summer break, the San Marino Grand Prix was the scene of the sixth round of the season, where the JuniorGP™ riders shared the spotlight with those of the MotoGP™ World Championship. It was Rueda’s first match point to win the title, and he left no room for doubt.
The Andalusian, who started from the front row of the grid together with his teammate Piqueras, went out to win and quickly took the lead, with the intention of setting the tone for the race as he has done so many times this season. However, this time, a compact group of six pilots gave him no respite. The dance of positions and changes of leader left a very exciting race that was not resolved until the last lap, when Filippo Farioli took the victory ahead of José Antonio Rueda, a result that crowned him with the world title of the category.
The also Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider, Ángel Piqueras, completed the podium in Misano, after serving a Long Lap Penalty with four laps to go and coming back to the third final position. One of the best races of the season for the Valencian driver, who remains fifth in the general classification, just eleven points behind the runner-up, which David Salvador currently occupies. For his part, the third member of the Spanish team, the Uruguayan Facundo Llambías, finished in 11th position, in what was only the second race after his ulna injury.
“We have worked very hard all season to be able to win the title and I am very happy for all the efforts of my team. It has been an incredible day, everything has gone well and I am very excited. I dedicate this title to Hugo Millán”, explained Rueda a few minutes after putting his name on the list of winners of the category. A trophy that the Sevillian rider received in the highest drawer from the hands of the 2021 MotoGP™ world champion, Fabio Quartararo. Precisely, the French rider was the last FIM CEV champion with Estrella Galicia 0.0 and Monlau in 2014.
How could it be otherwise, joy took over the Team Estrella Galicia 0.0 box, after reaping the title as a result of many months of collective work. “The resumption of the championship could not have gone better. We are very satisfied and proud with this world title won by José Antonio Rueda. He has had a spectacular year, getting on the podium in practically all the races and with some very solid victories, which confirms the great work of the whole team. Thanks to all the members and the support of Estrella Galicia 0,0, Motul and all the sponsors, we have reached the best moment in recent years. And I am sure that we are going to continue in this line”, affirms Jaime Serrano, CEO of the team.
A tone similar to that shown by Kev Coghlan, Team Manager: “This title is very important for the team. The changes in recent years have been very positive and we are on the right track. Without a doubt, this title will open many doors for Rueda, since he has shown that he is not just any rider. I also want to highlight the race of Piqueras, who went from less to more and made an incredible comeback in the last laps after serving the penalty, as well as that of Facundo Llambías, who has regained his confidence from the beginning of the year. The entire Estrella Galicia 0.0 Team has worked very hard during the year, especially in winter, to achieve these results”.
Regarding the Malaysian team SIC Racing, to which Monlau Motul Technical School offers technical support, Syarifuddin Azman was once again in the fight for the top positions, and managed to finish in sixth position. After the Misano test, the FIM JuniorGP™ faces the last two appointments on the calendar, both in Spanish territory. The most immediate, at MotorLand Aragón, on October 9, where the Estrella Galicia 0.0 Team will be present at the JuniorGP™ race and at the two European Talent Cup races.
( source : https://monlau-motorsport.com/jose-antonio-rueda-campeon-del-mundo-del-fim-juniorgp-con-el-team-estrella-galicia-00/ )