Barcelona winner Tomoyoshi Koyama celebrated another fantastic podium finish in Sunday's British Grand Prix securing second place behind Mattia Pasini after a hard-fought battle in the 125 cc class. Koyama pushed hard in the opening laps of the race, but had to settle for his own pace in the second half of the race, when his soft front tyre wore out early on the drying tarmac.
Delighted with his second podium in two races, the diminutive Japanese rider said: "Two podium finishes in two successive races - this is great for us and it shows that we have reached a really good level with the set-up of our bike!"
Koyama said he had still lacked a little feeling for the bike on Saturday and he couldn't tackle the corners with the speed he wanted. The problem was solved for race day after some adjustments to the third gear. "I was able to push hard and I enjoyed myself out there, even though the conditions were difficult because of the weather. I had a very soft tyre on the front, which was great at the beginning of the race. But towards the end the track completely dried up and the front was closing everywhere. I really struggled not to crash." Koyama is now looking forward to the next race in Assen, a circuit that is new to him.
Red Bull KTM 125 team-mate Randy Krummenacher also had a podium finish in his sights for the first half of the race distance but was then taken out by another rider in the treacherous last corner of the Donington Park raceway. The Swiss teenager was able to re-start his bike and finish the race in thirteenth position.
"I was running just behind the top group and I battled with Bradley Smith for tenth place, when Esteve Rabat torpedoed me from behind and took me out," the Swiss rider said. "I was able to re-start my bike and continue the race. It took me two laps to get into my rhythm again, and then I was doing the same lap times as the race leaders." Although he salvaged three championship points, Krummenacher was disappointed. Full of confidence after his first ever podium in Barcelona and considering his excellent lap times, he was sure he could have had another podium. "I now have double the motivation to do a good race in Assen," he concluded.
American dirt track ace Steve Bonsey, third man in the Red Bull KTM 125 line-up, also rode a good race. He held top twenty positions at several stages, before ending a strong and steady ride in twenty third position.
Results
1. Mattia Pasini, Italy, Aprilia
2. Tomoyoshi Koyama, Japan, KTM
3. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aprilia
4. Sergio Gadea, Spain, Aprilia
5. Joan Olive, Spain, Aprilia
13. Randy Krummenacher, Switzerland, KTM
23. Steve Bonsey, USA, KTM
Images - Kirn F.
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