KALLIO FAST FOR RED BULL KTM AT HOT MUGELLO
04 June 2005 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

Red Bull KTM rider Mika Kallio maintained his dominance by claiming provisional pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in today’s first qualifying session at Mugello.

In hot and humid conditions Kallio posted a string of fast laps late in the session to overcome the challenge of Aprilia riders Mattia Pasini and Hector Faubel.

In the end Kallio claimed the fastest time on his final lap with gap of 0.448s over Pasini in very competitive session. Faubel was third fastest.

Kallio’s KTM teammates Gabor Talmacsi and Julian Simon were seventh and twelfth respectively.

Talmacsi, who celebrated his 24th birthday just last Saturday, was trapped in a bunched group of riders late in the session and could not get a clear run for a fast time.

Although seventh, Talmacsi was just 0.14s off the fourth fastest time and a place on the front row of the grid.

Spanish teenager Simon, in just his first season with Red Bull KTM, is still searching for the ideal front end set-up on the super-fast Mugello circuit. Front-end feel is critical at this circuit with a sequence of fast downhill corner entries.

Kallio, who leads the world championship points standings, also posted the fastest time in the morning free practice session.

MIKA KALLIO #36 - First- (1’59.288)

“My plan was to be fast at the end of the session and it worked; I was able to ride alone and do quick times. With all the uphill sections engine power is important at Mugello and the KTM motor is very strong here. Early in the session I tried some harder compound tyres, front and rear, but had a little chatter but when I switched back to the same set-up as in morning free practice everything worked well.”

GABOR TALMACSI #14 -Seventh - (2’00.254)

“I’m not too disappointed to be seventh because on times I’m very close to the front row. I spent the last part of the session fighting in a group of riders including Thomas Luthi and it was difficult to find some clear track for a fast lap. I think in final qualifying I can move up the grid.”

JULIAN SIMON #60 - Twelfth - (2’01.272)

“My main problem was with front end set-up in the three fast corners and this prevented me from going faster. Front end feel is very important at this track and I need more time to work on the set-up. I’m confident of improving tomorrow.”

HARALD BARTOL - Managing and Technical Director

“Everything ran smoothly and this was another very good performance by Mika. With Julian we just need more time to find the optimum suspension and tyre combination for him in his first season with KTM, but in final qualifying I expect both him and Gabor to improve.”

Photo - O. Bergamaschi

www.ktm.at

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