TALMACSI WINS DUTCH TT FOR RED BULL KTM TEAM
25 June 2005 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

Hungarian rider Gabor Talmacsi won his second race of the season for the Red Bull KTM team with a thrilling last lap victory in the Dutch TT at Assen.

Talmacsi started the final lap in second place and was perfectly positioned to grab the lead when Marco Simoncelli crashed on the final lap as Talmacsi applied the pressure.

Just after Talmacsi went to the front Simoncelli crashed in an incident with Thomas Luthi and did not finish the race.

As Talmacsi celebrated his Finnish teammate Mika Kallio was nursing a sprained and swollen right ankle after crashing out at 200 kph just four laps from the finish.

On lap fourteen Kallio was in fourth place when he ran wide in a fast left-hander during a tight passing move with Luthi.

By not finishing today’s race Kallio dropped to fourth in the world championship standings while Talmacsi moved to equal first place on 100 points, level with Mattia Pasini. Talamcsi si the first Hungarian rider ever to lead an FIM road race world championship series.

Spanish teenager Julian Simon finished sixth today after a strong finish that saw him set a string of fast laps and pick up five places over the final five laps. Simon made a fast start and was with the leading group early when he lost time by running wide at the final chicane.

For the second consecutive race Michael Ranseder, a wild card entered by the Red Bull ADAC KTM Junior team, finished in the championship points with an impressive 12th place.

Today’s race was watched by a huge crowd of 90.700 spectators.

GABOR TALMACSI #14 - First - Championship: =1st/ 100 points

“It was a very tough race and to be sharing the lead in the championship is very rewarding, both for me and the KTM team. I was fast all weekend and from the start of the race I tried to stay in the top three positions. On the last lap when Simoncelli crashed I just closed the line in the final chicane, I thought some riders would try to pass me. I’m not thinking of championship, there are still many races, but anything is possible.”

JULIAN SIMON #60 - Sixth - Championship: 8th/ 55 points

“I’m a little disappointed because I thought I had a chance to fight for the podium. I was with the leading group when I touched with some riders at the chicane and ran wide. But I was able to make up time over the final laps for my best result of the season. I’m happy about my race, but not the result.”

MIKA KALLIO #36 - DNF - Championship: 4th/ 82 points

“I was in a big group for the fast left-hand corner, it’s 200 kph. As I began to turn Luthi came on the inside and I had to lift my bike and then try and turn again but I ran wide and onto a dirty part of the track and then lost the front. I was comfortable running at the front and was waiting for the final two laps to try and make a break for the lead.”

MICHAEL RANSEDER #76 - Championship: 22nd/ 8 points

“I made a good start but I wasn’t aggressive enough, I was 22nd on the first lap and then got involved in a battle with four other riders. We lost a lot of time fighting each other so in the end I was happy to finish twelfth, it was a very hard fight.”

HARALD BARTOL - Technical and Managing Director

“I’m very happy for Gabor and sad for Mika, the same feeling as Mugello. Both Gabor and Mika raced very well and it was pity Mika crashed, but that’s racing. This was a real race, absolutely incredible, and I’m proud that a Red Bull KTM bike was able to win a race like this, it is a great reward for all the hard work by the team.”

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