BRITISH GRAND PRIX / DONINGTON MIKA KALLIO A STRONG SECOND AT QUALIFYING IN DONINGTON PARK
01 July 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

RR WCH 125 Round 9: (01.07.2006)

Red Bull KTM rider Mika Kallio again proved he is on track for success ahead of the British GP at Donington Park. The congenial 23-year-old Finn emerged from qualifying on his KTM FRR 125 with second place on the grid for Sunday’s race. The ninth race of the current world championship series is being held in England near Nottingham. The race promises to be a tough duel between the current leader in the world championship standings and the second placed Red Bull KTM rider.
Randy Krummenacher, substitute rider for the injured Julian Simon, put in a conscientious effort for his team in his first ever Grand Prix on what is a demanding circuit for the racers. He finished with a creditable 25th starting slot.

The Donington Park circuit is 4.023 km with very fast blind fourth-gear corners, a real challenge to the racers.

The 19-year-old Spaniard Julian Simon will miss the Donington race after a crash during the Grand Prix in Barcelona where he broke his thigh. Julian is presently still in Barcelona and has begun rehabilitation training. He is making daily improvements and the plan is that he will be back on the track for the race at Brno, Czech Republic.

Red Bull KTM Junior Michael Ranseder finished training with his best grid position in this, his first world championship season. The 16-year-old Stefan Bradl finished just 2.8 seconds behind pole position, which translates into start place 34 for him in tomorrow’s race.

Mika Kallio # 36 Red Bull KTM GP 125 – 2nd Position– 1’36.566
“Naturally I would have rather been on pole, but 2nd start position is ok. I got stuck in traffic in the last few important laps otherwise there would have been a bit more in it for me. We have set up my motorbike very well for the race. But even than it’s going to be a hot race tomorrow against Bautista but I know that he’s not unbeatable.”

Randy Krummenacher # 54 Red Bull KTM GP 125 – 25th Position – 1’38.676
“It’s a great feeling to be competing in the Grand Prix. But it is also something quite different. In training you have to give it all you can right from the start; there’s lots of journalists and simply just a lot of things going on. But slowly I’m getting used to the atmosphere. Julian’s KTM is more developed than the motorbike I ride in the International German Championship. I am getting more used to it all the time. I was really fast in the last three laps of qualifying and it was super fun. Tomorrow I have to have a good start and see that I can stick with the pack. I’m confident about that because my time in practice was really constant.''

Michael Ranseder # 9 Red Bull KTM Junior Team – 19th Position – 1’38.338
“The Donington weekend has gone well right from the start. I like the circuit, I found a good rhythm right from the beginning, I can go at a good speed and my mechanics have worked well. The result of that is 19th place on the grid. We have to stick to it and keep going like. The tactic for tomorrow is not to get involved in any hectic activity, get away to a good start and make up as many places as possible.''

Stefan Bradl # 17 Red Bull KTM Junior Team – 34th Position – 1’39.077
“At the moment I just don’t seem to get it quite right. I will try to think as positively as possible and let’s see what happens in tomorrow’s race.”

Circuit: dry / 45°C
Air Temperature: 28°C

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