HIROSHI AOYAMA TAKES SIXTH FOR THE START AT ISTANBUL PARK
29 April 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

ROAD RACING RR250 WCH: 3rd Round Grand Prix of Turkey/Istanbul Park: 2. Qualifying (29.04.2006)

The, still brand new, KTM FRR 250 project, developed and under the management of Harald Bartol, is still in its first complete racing season. The Turkish track at Istanbul Park is one of the circuits where no technical data were collected before.

Red Bull KTM GP 250 24-year old Hiroshi Aoyama from Japan and 23-year old San Marinien Manuel Poggiali both like the technically demanding race track and are looking forward to tough competition tomorrow.
Like their KTM 125 colleagues, Hiroshi and Manuel got disrupted in their schedule of setting up bikes as it was raining during both Saturday’s practice sessions. Therefore Friday’s qualification times decided the grid positions as nobody was able to improve during the Saturday afternoon session.

Hiroshi Aoyama # 4 Red Bull KTM GP 250 –6th position – 1’59.493
“I’m not pleased with sixth starting position. It is not good enough. A race in the wet tomorrow will be a survival race. Due to the ups and downs there are some places where little rivers are crossing the track. But I like Istanbul Park and what ever the situation will be, I will try to equal my third place from last year, but a real good race finishes on top of the podium.”

Manuel Poggiali # 54 Red Bull KTM GP 250 –18th position – 2’01.246
”I can not say more than I hope for dry conditions tomorrow, as I than feel more confident with my bike. It is the first time for me on a 250 bike in Turkey and the first time in the wet with my KTM.”

Harald Bartol – Technical and Managing Director
“I think it doesn’t look so bad for the race under any condition — dry or wet. Anyway we have to take it like it is. Hiroshi is riding very well in the rain as he does in the sunshine. Just Manuel seems to have a bit less confidence in the wet. We will know more tomorrow.”

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