Top qualifying slots for all three KTM 250 riders in Phillip Island
All three KTM 250 riders qualified in top positions for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, with Red Bull KTM's Mika Kallio in second, team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama in fourth and Spanish Repsol KTM 250 rider Julian Simon in sixth place.
Kallio, who has scored three victories and five podium finishes this season, is determined to keep his title chances alive. Aoyama, a four times GP winner on KTM, tested the new chassis for his KTM FRR 250, one that Kallio has worked with for the last three races.
Crash spoils Aoyama's chance to race with new chassis
recognisable by its traditional air intake for the airbox - the older version features a central air intake through the steering head - the new frame was designed to give the riders additional feel and improved handling in the corners. But Aoyama's trial run was short-cut when he crashed in the wet afternoon session. His bike hit the tyre barrier so hard it catapulted over the fence and the new chassis was left with irreversible changes to the steering geometry. Aoyama had to revert to the old version for the remainder of the weekend.
Big moment on Friday for Kallio
Mika Kallio also had a big moment in the wet Friday afternoon session, when he high-sided and went off the track at high speed. The 25-year-old Finn showed mastery in keeping the bike balanced and just cleared another tyre wall by a fraction.
Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM 250 - 2nd in 1.32,862):
"We can be happy with our achievements so far. We improved steadily from session to session and in the end, we managed to get good lap times. Of course, as a rider, you always want to be first, so I'm not 100 per cent satisfied but it's difficult to pinpoint just where we are missing out. The engine performance is good, we could maybe try to find more grip out of the fastest corners but our tyres and chassis set-up are also good. Of course, we'll try to improve our bike further in tomorrow's warm-up and I'll pull all stops in the race to fight for victory!"
Hiroshi Aoyama (Red Bull KTM 250 - 4th in 1.33,048):
"We went back to our standard chassis this morning and focussed on tyre testing and a set-up that would give me enough confidence under brakes. We managed that and we're on the right track. Even though it looked like I could have finished higher in this afternoon's qualifying I can be satisfied to be on the front row of the grid. Mika, Simoncelli, Bautista and I seem to have a better rhythm than the rest of the field, so I expect a close and exciting race between the four of us." Aoyama said he had felt good with the 2009 chassis in testing and said his best apology for damaging it in the crash would be a good result in Sunday's race.
Julian Simon (Repsol KTM 250 - 6th in 1.33,250):
"Final qualifying went really well for us. The bike felt good, we found the right tyres and the times started to come in. I wanted to push for a front row grid position but I'm also happy to be on the second row. I really like this track. It's very beautiful and has fast, exciting corners. I've always managed to get good results here on Phillip Island and hope I can keep my good record. It will be hard but I'll try everything to get a podium finish!"
Harald Bartol (Technical Director):
"All of our 250 riders feel good here at Phillip Island, but I don't want to take credit for our bike. It's the circuit, a true motorcycle track that is challenging the best riders out there. And without a doubt, Mika, Hiro and Julian belong to the best."
KTM rider De Rosa turns up the gas in 125 cc training on Phillip Island
Italian Raffaele de Rosa was fastest of KTM's seven rider 125 cc line-up, pushing his Onde 2000 KTM to seventh position on the grid ahead of the GP of Australia on the Phillip Island circuit.
The fearless 21-year-old from Naples, who really likes fast and flowing circuits like Phillip Island, found a good set-up for this bike as soon as the weather conditions settled on Saturday and is confident of doing even better in Sunday's race.
Krummenacher back on KTM
The Australian Grand Prix also marks the return of Swiss teenager Randy Krummenacher who took a two-race sabbatical to regain health and form. German KTM rookie Jonas Folger rode in his place in the last two 125 cc GPs. Krummenacher immediately settled into a fast rhythm, but was slowed by a tight pack of riders waiting for the slipstream advantage in final qualifying. Starting from 21st position of the grid, Krummenacher is nevertheless confident to be able to battle for world championship points tomorrow.
Raffaele de Rosa (Onde 2000 KTM 125 - 7th in 1.38,473):
"This circuit is exactly the way I like it, very fast, very demanding and very exciting to ride. It also helps that the air temperature is not too hot. No-one in 125 seems to have an advantage in terms of power and top-speed on this track. We sorted a few issues with our bike this morning and found a good set-up. I could have gone even faster in final qualifying this afternoon, but I got stuck in traffic and I also made a few little mistakes. I'm still happy with our second row start, because I know we have a few things up our sleeves. We should have a good race tomorrow!"
Randy Krummenacher (Red Bull KTM 125 - 21st in 1.39,860):
"I am happy to be back on my bike and I'm quite happy with the practice even though I would have liked to go a bit faster. I was slowed by traffic on my fastest lap in final qualifying, but apart from that, things went well. I felt good on the bike as soon as I went out in yesterday's first practice session. I'm confident that we'll be able to speed up tomorrow. If I can scrape five to eight tenths of a second off my best lap time that I am up with the pack. Tomorrow I want to fight for some world championship points and enjoy myself on the bike. I want to do really well in the last three races of this season and then consider my options for the next year!"
Photographer: Kirn F.
