By Paul Kelly
redbullindianapolisgp.com
Monday, April 14, 2008
It now appears that it's a matter of if, not when, American Stevie Bonsey will earn his first 125cc World Championship podium finish in 2008.
Bonsey, 18, from Salinas, Calif., finished a career-best fourth in the Grand Prix of Portugal on April 13 at the Estoril circuit after starting a career-best second on his DeGraaf Grand Prix Aprilia.
It was the second consecutive race of career bests for Bonsey, in his second season of worldwide 125cc competition. He qualified and finished sixth March 30 in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
"This was really an awesome weekend for me," Bonsey said. "I'm so happy today. Next time, I want to have a good start and fight for the podium. I know now it is possible, and that's my goal for the rest of the season."
Bonsey's finish capped a strong weekend for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team. His teammate Danny Webb of Great Britain finished fifth.
But the race, which took place in intermittent rain, was anything but easy for Bonsey. He slipped from his second starting position to 14th early in the race but rallied to join Webb and defending 125cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary in a fight for fourth.
Bonsey climbed to sixth on Lap 13 of the 23-lap race before passing Talmacsi for fourth on Lap 19, a spot he kept for good despite a scare in the waning laps.
"I don't know what happened with the bike, but it stopped a couple of laps before the end of the race," Bonsey said. "I was convinced that the bike broke down, but luckily it went on again, and I tried to race as hard as I could.
"I managed to pass all the riders in the group and had even a little gap at the checkered flag."
Bonsey will race next at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, May 4 at Shanghai.
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Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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