March 23, 2005In an impressive final pre-season workout Red Bull KTM GP 125 riders Mika Kallio and Gabor Talmacsi both finished in the top six at the IRTA Jerez
test (March 21/22).
Flying Finn Kallio was fourth fastest, just 0.4s behind the best lap produced by Marco Simoncelli, and is now very confident in advance of the first race, the Spanish GP on April 10.
Kallio, 22, was in sparkling form and completed a marathon 181 laps over two days, the most of any rider at the Jerez test. The weather was mostly
warm and sunny with some rain showers late on day one and in the morning of day two.
Both Kallio and Talmacsi were able to concentrate on set-up work with the ignition software problems that were encountered in Barcelona now fixed.
Spanish teenager Julian Simon did not ride at the Jerez test and was rested by team manager Harald Bartol as he recovers from a cracked bone in his
wrist. The injury was suffered at last week's Barcelona test however the 17 year-old will be fit for the opening race on April 10.
Talmacsi was less than a second behind the fastest time at Jerez and delighted to be in top six despite a harmless crash on the afternoon of day two. Talmacsi later returned to the track on his spare bike.
MIKA KALLIO #36 - Fourth - (1.47.752) : 181 laps
"On my fastest lap I came across a couple of slow riders and that cost me some time so I know we have a good set-up, both engine and chassis. I am
confident for the season and we are now ready to go racing, the bikes ran perfectly after our problems last week. I did a lot of set-up work to prepare for the first race. The new KTM has more balanced handling and turn-in than last year and it is easier to set-up for my riding style."
GABOR TALMACSI #14 - Sixth - (1.48.138) : 126 laps
"I had a good feeling with the bike and a comfortable set-up but in the fast left-hander behind the paddock I opened the throttle and the rear
started to slide and I lost control. It was just a big slide and I wasn't hurt. Later the data showed that I was going 10 kph faster than before, but it didn?t feel like it! But I?m not worried going into the first race, I'm very satisfied, although my spare bike wasn?t quite set-up the same as the bike I crashed. The engine is strong now and I think if I am in the top six I can be up at the front in the first race here at Jerez although there a lot of fast riders."
HARALD BARTOL - Team Manager
"Everything is now running smoothly with the engine as we have solved the ignition software problem which was causing some detonation at the Barcelona test and it was difficult for the riders to feel the problem. It was this situation which contributed to Julian Simon's crash and it was better for him to rest for this test. He will be fit for the first race. We did a lot of excellent set-up work with the new chassis at Jerez, I think we are in a
very competitive position for the first race with two riders in the top six at this test."
Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG