Lady Luck was not riding with the Red Bull KTM GP 125 team for the Moto Grand Prix of China on the Shanghai circuit this weekend with just one of the three riders crossing the finish line. Tomoyoshi Koyama was clearly competitive through most of the race. He stuck with the top group through most of the race and was all set for a final lap attack on the podium when his piston seized and he was forced to retire.
“My bike was very fast today, the suspension settings were much better than in practice, and despite some rear wheel slides I was going really well in the first big group of riders. I planned an attack on the last lap and was hoping for another podium finish. But after the home straight, going into the first turn of the last lap, my bike just stopped with a piston seizure. I managed to get it going again, but in the hairpin, it stopped again,” the Japanese rider who is spending his first season with the Red Bull KTM team remained philosophic. “This is racing – I hope for better luck at the next race!” he said.
Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher’s race had barely begun when he was it by another rider. He scrambled to get back in the race but with a damaged fairing and bent handlebars was forced to make a pit stop. Krummenacher eventually rejoined the race at the rear of the field and by his own admission had lost confidence and felt a bit shaken up.
“I had a good start and was right within the pack on the first lap, when Federico Sandi banged into me, and we both went down. He landed right in front of me, and I hit and sort of jumped over his bike. I was able to continue, but the fairing was damaged and my handlebars were bent, so I came in for a pit stop. When I continued, I didn’t have the same level of concentration any more and felt tense. I just couldn’t find my rhythm again even though my bike was good and fast!
Young American dirt bike racer Steve Bonsey also leaves Shanghai with few good memories of Sunday’s race after he was taken out by another rider in the second lap.
Bonsey had made a good start, overtaking other riders and making up positions when another rider clipped his handlebars and sent him flying. Bonsey sustained a blow to the head on landing and may have suffered a slight concussion.
Bonsey and his team-mates now have until May 20 to prepare for the next attack, back in Europe at Le Mans.
Results:1. Lukas Pesek, Czech Republic, Derbi, 42’25.923
2. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aprilia, 42’26.110
3. Eseve Rabat, Spain, Honda, 42’26.404
4. Gabor Talmacsi, Hungary, Aprilia, 42’26.705
5. Simone Corsi, Italy, Aprilia, 42’27.063
27. Randy Krummenacher, KTM,
Tomoyoshi Koyama, KTM DNF
Steve Bonsey, KTM DNF
Images by Kirn F.
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