MAX Cook was left to rue a mid-race crash in the latest round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Misano, Italy.

Swindon teenager Cook also suffered a spill in qualification at Circuit Marco Simoncelli and after starting 14th on the grid for the sole race, another mishap hit his hopes.

“I’m sad about the way the weekend ended as I wanted a good result to show everyone that I can run with the front group again,” said Cook.

“I think this time I just pushed too hard. I’ve still learnt a lot from this weekend, especially how to learn circuits quickly and also not to put too much pressure on myself.”

The latest round operated slightly different to usual race weekends as the traditional circuit invasion after the MotoGP race prevented the rookies from having a second outing.

With high temperatures and humidity, there were threats of thunderstorms rolling in throughout the weekend, but Cook quickly got to grips with conditions and finished the two practice sessions with a best time of 1min 46.9secs for ninth fastest and 0.6secs off the best time.

Attention then turned to qualifying and after seven laps, Cook had found a good rhythm, setting a lap time of 1:46.3 for eighth on the grid at the time.

On his eighth lap, Cook posted the fastest time of anyone in sector one and seemed on course for a supreme lap.

Sadly, though, he crashed halfway through the lap to scupper his chances of improving his time and would drop to 14th by the end of the session.

Following qualifying for the MotoGP race, the rookies lined up for their one and only contest of the weekend in perfect weather and track conditions.

Lining up in the middle of row five, Cook did not get the good start he set out for and dropped to 16th by the end of the first corner.

He battled hard to regain his lost places and halfway through the lap, he had made up four of them.

At the end of the long straight, the riders bunched up quickly, which forced Cook wide and he immediately saw an opportunity to make up more places.

Unfortunately, Cook asked a bit too much of the bike and lost traction of the rear tyre, which spat him off the bike.

Although out of the race, Cook showed his character by picking up the bike up and returning to the pits for quick repairs before going back out on track and riding for pride, where he was able to post solid lap times around 1min 46secs.

The Red Bull Rookies Cup season concludes at the Motoland Aragon circuit in Spain next weekend.

Cook added: “I want to end the season on a high at Aragon with a decent finish, but I also want to enjoy myself and finish the year with a good memory.”