MIKA KALLIO ON POLE WITH JULIAN SIMON THIRD POSITION FOR GP AT CHINA
13 May 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

RR WCH 125: 4th Round: Grand Prix of China/Shanghai: Final Qualifying (13.05.2006)

“Flying Finn” Mika Kallio set pole position at Shanghai International circuit in both qualification sessions, with team mate Julian Simon completing the fantastic team performance with third place and a front row starting position for tomorrows race; making a nice birthday present to KTM technical director, Harald Bartol.

This weekend the Red Bull KTM GP 125 riders, Mika Kallio and young Spanish talent Julian Simon return to Shanghai for only the second ever Grand Prix at the Chinese circuit.

Everything about the 5.281 km long racetrack is impressive and massive, from the 200.000 capacity grand stands to its 1.200 m high-speed straight and more than 270 degree hair pin turns. This most modern track in the world is forcing riders and material to the limit. Many tricky positions, which decide the winner and the loser.

As Mika Kallio is desperate to fight for the championship, being aware that it is still a long way to go, he set provisional pole in the first qualifying in soaking wet conditions and confirming his and the bike’s performance with the best lap time as well in the dry. Spanish 19-year-old team colleague, Julian Simon, secured position three by cutting more than 2.5 sec off his best lap time from the opening GP at Shanghai last year.

Both of the Red Bull KTM riders are confident for tomorrow’s 19-lap race as they found good chassis solutions for both dry or wet conditions, although the race is forecast to be run in the dry.

Red Bull KTM Juniors, Stefan Bradl from Germany, and Austrian Michael Ranseder achieved position 22 and 29 at their first ever visit to China.

Mika Kallio # 36 Red Bull KTM GP 125 – pole position – 2’11.572
”I’m really happy with today’s result”, he said with a big smile on his face. The bike is going really very fast and we found a good set up for this difficult circuit. I believe we will have a good race tomorrow.”

Julian Simon # 60 Red Bull KTM GP 125 – 3rd position –2’11.953
“My bike is much faster compared to last year GP in Shanghai. It also feels very good from the chassis side and on the brakes. So it was actually easier to achieve this good result than last year and I’m looking forward to an interesting race tomorrow.”

Stefan Bradl # 17 Red Bull KTM Junior Team – 22nd position – 2’14.260
”Today practice was running quiet well. My bike is good and the engine very fast. I thought I could achieve something like 20th position in qualifying, after being 17th this morning. But then I didn’t find a good slipstream to improve towards the end of the session. But as I did my fastest lap on my own, I think I will make some places during tomorrows race.”

Michael Ranseder # 9 Red Bull KTM Junior Team – 29th position – 2’15.094
“I set my fastest lap already on lap four, but crashed when I tried to get faster towards the end. The bike is really fast, but I had some trouble with the rear suspension, which we don’t know what the real problem is at the moment. But we will work hard now and solve the problems. Than I will try to have a good start like Istanbul and hope to pick up as many positions as possible.”

Harald Bartol – Technical and Managing Director
“Pole and third place, what can I say. I’m happy with the both, Mika and Julian on the front row. A good birthday present from the guys and very promising for tomorrow’s race.”

Photo courtesy of Milagro

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