ROAD RACING
14 March 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

Jerez IRTA update (10.03.2006)

After having set the fastest 125-cc-time the week before during the official IRTA-tests at the Catalunya circuit, Red-Bull-KTM works rider Mika Kallio was again up with the other quickest riders, stating again that he will be a strong contender for this year’s World Championship. „All is going according to plan“, reported the Finn. „We have managed to get rid of the chattering that has bothered me during the first test at Estoril, the engines are behaving usually well, and I am really looking forward to the start of the season.“

His Spanish team-mate Julian Simon is also optimistic. From the very start of testing the Spaniard has been much closer to Kallio’s times than last year, and even a late accident on the second day of the Jerez-test (during which he remained unhurt) could dampen his excitement about the new machinery: „The new chassis is much more stable, the engine is improved again, and we have new aerodynamics after tests in the windtunnel. My goal this year is to consistently fight in the top five and together with Mika to win as many races as possible.“

The Red Bull-KTM Juniors were also present at Jerez. While Michi Ranseder used his experience from last year’s Spanish Championship round to get down to business prettyy quickly, for Stefan Bradl it meant the start of what will happen more often this year: having to learn a new circuit. Even so, Stefan adapted quickly to the new venue, „and when Mika Kallio was waiting for me a bit, I could quickly see where I was losing time.“ The young Bavarian immediately improved his lap-time behind his „senior“ colleague by more than a second, but unfortunately later on he produced a highsider in a quick left-hand corner, suffering a tiny fracture in his right hand: „But everything should be ok again for the GP, the doctors have said.“ Michi Ranseder’s quickest time was about two seconds behind the best time, which is what one has to expect – for the beginning of the season at least.

After the KTM 125s had finished their test, it was time for the 250s to continue. After two days without any mechanical problems, KTM’s technical guru Harald Bartol was more than happy: „The engines are really going well in the meantime“, he said, „of course we still have to sort out some difficulties with the chassis, but we can be really happy with this test.“ Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama produced the 9th best time of the 250 cc class.

Now everybody returns home for the final preparations, before returning down to Andalusia in two weeks for the opening race of the 2006 World Chanmpionship season.

Photo courtesy of F Weisse

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