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14.04.2008
Third podium in three 250 cc GPs for KTM's Kallio Red Bull KTM 250 factory rider raced to third in the 250cc Grand Prix of Portugal on the Estoril racing circuit to secure his third podium in three races and a 12-point lead in the world championship. "I thought before the season that if all goes well, we could be leading the points now," the Finnish rider said. "A podium is always good but second would have been better." Tactical race Kallio started fourth on the grid and was lying in a comfortable third place in the second half of the race only to be denied second place by just 0.13 seconds going across the line in 44.41.320. Kallio: "At the beginning I had some problems with the hard front tyre but then I started to catch up. I saw that Simoncelli was beginning to have tyre problems and in the last lap I was waiting for an opportunity to pass him. But I wasn't able to do it the just before we crossed the line we touched, otherwise we could have been second," Kallio said of an incident with second placed Marco Simoncelli right on the finish line. The Finn however was philosophical, saying that such incidents were a part of racing. Aoyama solid fifth Kallio's teammate at Red Bull KTM 250 Hiroshi Aoyama finished in a solid fifth place. "I had a good start but I wasn't able to stick with the front group. I had some problems with my back tyre but then I started to get better and better but in the end the Aprilias were too fast for us today." Red Bull KTM Director Harald Bartol: "Kallio raced a good race today and he was concentrating on the world championship." While underlining that he was not speaking specifically of the final stages of the 250 cc race, Bartol said it was his general opinion that when such an incident happens on the home straight he thought it was matter for the race direction. Rounding for a good day for KTM Julian Simon of Repsol KTM 250 cc crossed the line in seventh place. Results 1. Alvaro Bautista, Spain, Aprilia, 44:34.257 2. Marco Simoncelli, Gilera, 44:41,307 3. Mika Kallio, Finland, KTM, 44.41.320 4. Thomas Luthi, Switzerland, Aprilia, 44:47.265 5. Hiroshi Aoyama, KTM, 44:48.923 6. Yuki Takahashi, Honda, 44:52.755 7. Julian Simon, Spain, KTM, 45:01.069 Grand Prix of Portugal a learning experience for KTM 125 cc riders With Red Bull KTM 125 team factory rider Randy Krummenacher still recovering from an emergency operation for a ruptured spleen, the Grand Prix of Portugal evolved into a learning experience for the remaining six riders of the KTM supported teams. Tomoyoshi Koyama of the ISPA KTM Aran Team was unable to translate his pre-race optimism into a top result. He started at grid slot 11 and finished in sixteenth place. Marc Marquez, the very young rider in Repsol KTM 125 cc Team did finish his first Grand Prix after having had to sit out the first two with a wrist injury from pre-season training. The other four KTM riders - Lorenzo Zanetti, Italy, ISPA KTM Aran; Pablo Nieto, Spain, Onde 2000 KTM; Esteve Rabat, Spain, Repsol KTM 125 cc and Raffaele De Rosa, Italy, Onde 2000 KTM all retired during the race. Increased KTM activity in the 125 cc class in supporting additional team is an integral part of the company's development program and its policy of supporting talented young riders. Results 1. Simone Corsi, Italy, Aprilia 2. Joan Olive, Spain, Derbi 3. Nicolas Terol, Spain, Aprilia 4. Stevie Bonsey, USA, Aprilia 5. Danny Webb, Britain, Aprilia 16. Tomoyoshi Koyama, Japan, ISPA KTM Aran 18. Marc Marquez, Spain, Repsol KTM 125 cc
- KTM-Sportmotorcycles Mattighofen-
Author: maggy (admin2)
Last modified: Monday, 14.04.2008 - 01:43 More reports from this category all copyright automobilsport.com.
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