WEST ELEVENTH ON WARM DAY ONE AT MOTEGI
16 September 2005 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

Red Bull KTM rider Anthony West has qualified eleventh on the provisional grid for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.

West set his fastest time on his 19th, and final lap, in the first qualifying session. The final qualifying session to determine grid positions for Sunday’s 23 lap race will be held tomorrow afternoon (Saturday).

West is looking for an improved performance with set-up changes to his KTM 250 to improve rear end stability and grip.

As part of the on-going development program West is trying a revised firing order motor in one of his two KTM race bikes this weekend. The motor is set-up to provide a smoother, mid-corner throttle response.

West improved his time by 1.7s compared to the morning free practice session as he came to grips both with the stop-go, 4.8 km Motegi track and the set-up changes to his bike.

Conditions were warm and humid for first qualifying with Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama claiming provisional pole position ahead of Alex de Angelis. World champion Dani Pedrosa was back in 14th place after crashing twice today.

Anthony West #14 - Eleventh - 1’54.082

“Eleventh is OK but there IS more to come, I’m not completely happy with my feeling on the bike, especially at the rear end, that’s main thing we need to improve tomorrow. Plus my two race bikes are set-up different, one with the new motor, so it is not easy switching between bikes. The new motor makes the bike feel smoother overall and has a more responsive throttle opening going into the corners.”

Harald Bartol - Technical and Managing Director

“One of Anthony’s bikes is fitted with a different firing order motor which is a result of our test session at Brno after the Czech GP last month. The bike is smoother on corner entry and initial throttle opening and Anthony did his fastest time today using the new motor.”

www.ktm.at

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