One lap to go, Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau are buying and selling locations like Pokemon playing cards. In fact, the stage is Le Mans, and the 12 months is 2003. That’s most likely my favourite Le Mans second.
I wouldn’t argue with you if yours had been Chris Vermeulen taking his solely MotoGP victory within the moist, MotoGP’s a thousandth race in 2024 – the place Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez, and Pecco Bagania placed on a present for the ages – or one in every of many extra from the archives. However none of these are the Le Mans second we’re speaking about at the moment – and it was only a second.
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In 2018, throughout a Moto3 race at Le Mans, we noticed probably the most spectacular shows of what riders on the highest ranges can do when wanted.
Upon the exit of a flip, Jakub Kornfeil was instantly confronted with a lowsided bike, and on a second’s discover, stood, and used it like a ramp. As if he had been Jett Lawrence, Kornfeil launched into the gravel, touchdown one of many saves of the last decade, earlier than rejoining the observe.
This clip resurfaces yearly on the run-up to the French Grand Prix, however no matter occurred to “that rider”, as he’s typically referred to? The place is Kronfeil? It’s value mentioning that Kronfeil gained the Pink Bull Rookies Cup in 2009, then competed within the 125cc World Championship from 2009-2011 earlier than transferring to Moto3 in 2012.
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I gained’t spoil the ending, however his days {of professional} racing had been numbered after that well-known clip.
Jakub Kornfeil, Prustel GP
Jakub Kornfeil, Prustel GPGold and Goose Images / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
Gold and Goose Images / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
The Czech completed the 2018 season in seventh place, grabbing one podium at his house circuit. In 2019, he completed in 14th place, however regardless of having a contract with BOE Cranium Rider Mugen Race group for the 2020 Moto3 championship, Kronfeil introduced his retirement in January of 2020, citing monetary constraints.
Kronfeil’s predominant sponsor, Czech firm Redox, pulled its help, leaving the 26-year-old with no possibility however to complete his Moto3 profession. However that wasn’t to be his final skilled experience. In 2020, he crammed in for Bradley Smith, and rode within the MotoE World Cup for seven rounds, ending 18th general.
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His time competing on two wheels got here to an finish in 2020, however he’s not achieved racing. Kronfeil grew to become the first-ever MotoSurf world champion in 2015 and continues to compete at the moment. When he’s not making waves, Kronfeil is bringing forth the subsequent crop of Czech racers, as he works as a coach for the FIM Mini GP & Miniracing Czech Republic Sequence.
Someplace in all this, he discovered the time to write down a guide titled Definice Sportu or Definition of Sport, which was printed in 2022.
Kronfeil’s clip brings so many riders a lot enjoyment right now of 12 months – now we all know his story. And for some added trivia, the bike he used as a ramp belonged to Enea Bastianini.
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