Red Bull KTM star Mika Kallio rode to an incredible fourth place in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix overcoming a damaged clutch that made it very difficult to shift through the gears of his KTM FRR 250 machine.
The 24-year-old Finn dropped back to the middle of the pack when the problem emerged going into the first turn of the famous Italian racing circuit of Mugello. It is a testament to his incredible skill and determination that he was able to recover and finish with a top position. The World Champion leader took 13 valuable points for his efforts and increased his lead in the point standings. He is now 18 points clear of second placed Mattia Pasini. Kallio's previous best performance on the Mugello circuit was in 2006 when he was sixth in the 125cc race.
The 96,000 spectators around the track witnessed an exciting battle between Kallio and his Red Bull KTM team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama in the second half of the race. Aoyama also made a remarkable recovery after an engine problem had spoiled his warm-up session in the morning. Fourteenth after one lap, Aoyama steadily moved up through the order and had fourth place within his reach when he attacked Kallio on the 21st and final lap of the race. Aoyama risked just a little too much, ran off the track and dropped back again to a final eighth position.
Mika Kallio
"My start was okay, but braking into the first corner of the track, I realised that my clutch was gone and that nothing happened when I pulled the lever. I tried to shift down anyway, but on the corner exit I must still have been in fourth or fifth gear instead of first, and a lot of riders got past me. It was confusing and difficult to ride and easy to make mistakes because shifting back without the clutch makes the bike over-rev and difficult to control. Later on, I managed to adjust the clutch a bit at the clutch lever and this made it possible to finish the race. Of course I would have been happier with a podium finish, but considering the circumstances, it was still a good result and with a bunch of valuable points for the championship!"
Hiroshi Aoyama
"Considering my crash yesterday and the engine problem we had this morning, my lap times weren't bad in the race. But I was too far back in the beginning, and even though I caught up during the race, I spoiled my chances to take fourth place when I took too many risks on the final lap. Mika and I had moved up through the ranks little by little, and I eventually managed to pass him but I was a little too late on the brakes and ran straight into the gravel. No risk, no fun! Now I am looking forward to the next race in Barcelona - I live there during the Grand Prix season, so it will be almost like a home Grand Prix for me!"
Technical Director Harald Bartol
"Today, we were lucky and unlucky at the same time. It was unlucky that Kallio got a clutch problem in the race, and it was very lucky that our main opponents in the championship either finished behind us, or didn't make the finish altogether. I have nothing but admiration for Mika's way of riding around his problem!"
Results:
1. Marco Simoncelli, Italy, Gilera, 40:19.910
2. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, 40:20:409
3. Thomas Luthi, Switzerland, Aprilia, 40:20.622
4. Mika Kallio, Finland, KTM, 40:27.313
5. Mattia Pasini, Italy, Aprilia, 40:32.452
Other KTM:
8. Hiroshi Aoyama, Japan, KTM, 40:37.226
11. Julian Simon, Spain, Repsol KTM 250cc, 41:07.270.
Championship Standings:
1. Mika Kallio, Finland, KTM 106 points
2. Mattia Pasini, 88
3. Alex Debon, Spain, 79
4. Marco Simoncelli, Italy, 78
5. Hiroshi Aoyama, Japan, KTM, 61
Images Supplied by Kirn F.
