MotoGP 2005

250

With a stirring come-from-behind performance Australian rider Anthony West finished tenth for the Red Bull KTM 250 team in today’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.

This was West’s second top ten performance in the just his second outing for the new KTM 250, just one week after his brilliant wet weather ride into second place in the British GP.

Having made a delayed start to the season West is already 14th in the world championship standings. The KTM team are using the second half of the season as development program before mounting a full scale assault on the world championship in 2006.

From twelfth on the grid West made a poor start when his motor bogged down and he was almost last into turn one. The hard-riding Australian was 19th at the end of lap one and began a vigorous charge through the traffic on the tight Sachsenring circuit.

He was fifteenth on lap two and by lap six had settled into tenth place behind Simone Corsi, with the leading group having already pulled away.

Over the final ten laps West engaged Honda rider Yuki Takahashi in a close battle and missed claiming ninth place by just 0.3s at the end of the race.

There is now a three-weekend break before the next race, the Czech Republic GP in Brno. West will relax at his European base in Austria during the holidays.

Anthony West #14 - Tenth
“I had a problem at the start with the clutch and bike didn’t accelerate away cleanly and I lost a lot positions, I think I was nearly in last place. I really had to push hard and I nearly ran over quite few guys to try and overtake and move forward. It’s hard work on this tight track but the bike performed strongly and the tyres were consistent although our set-up was not perfect for grip over the bumps in the final section of the lap. But this is only a new project, we are still catching up to everyone, and I’m happy be scoring points and in the top ten at just the second race.”

125

Red Bull KTM rider Mika Kallio won a crash-shortened German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring today.

In a strong performance by the KTM factory team kallio was joined in the top by Gabor Talmacsi (4th) and Julian Simon (5th) with the front group covered by just 1.4 seconds.

Kallio was leading the race, scheduled for 27 laps, when it was red-flagged with six laps remaining with Manuel Poggiali’s bike blocking the circuit.

Kallio’s second win of the season came after he had qualified on pole position. After a difficult start Kallio dropped back eighth on lap won but fought to take the lead on lap eight by passing Marco Simoncelli and Mattia Pasini.

Simoncelli eventually finished in third place with Thomas Luthi second.

Talmacsi was always in he front group of six riders and was briefly third on lap four before settling into fourth place and waiting for a final lap charge.

Like everyone but race leader Kallio, Talmacsi missed his opportunity with the early race finish. Even so Talmacsi maintains a strong third place in the championship points, just three behind Kallio who is now second.

Simon also put in a sparkling effort. After dropping back to ninth on the opening lap the young Spaniard attacked the leading group and went into thru place on lap 13 behind Kallio and Luthi.

Simon was then re-passed by Talmacsi and Simoncelli in a tough battle and was in fifth place when the race was stopped.

Red Bull ADAC KTM Junior riders Michael Ranseder and Stefan Bradl were also in top form as wild card riders in this race. Ranseder finished 12th to score points for third time this season Bradl was 16th, just one place out of the points, when the race was stopped.

MIKA KALLIO #36 - First - Championship: 2nd/ 116 points

“It was my to go to the front and try and lead s many laps s I could and then wait for the final laps. I made a poor start but pushed to the lead and I knew there was a pack of riders behind, but I never looked back. Perhaps i was a little lucky with the red flag but I still my KTm was fast enough win. But I also had some bad luck early this season so i’m happy with this result.”

GABOR TALMACSI #14 - Fourth - Championship: 3rd/ 113 points
“It was easy to follow the leading group and I was comfortable in fourth but perhaps I waited to long to push for the lead because then the race was red flagged. I’m not so happy about that but for the championship it’s good for me because Pasini crashed today. The bike and tyres were perfect today.”

JULIAN SIMON #60 - Fifth - Championship: 6th/ 91 points
“I’m happy even though the race finished early. My team did a good job this weekend and I was able to race with the leading group. But there was a lot of overtaking and I dropped from third to fifth when the race stopped. It’s still a good result for me and the KTM team.”

MICHAEL RANSEDER #76 - Twelfth - Championship: 22nd/ 12 points
“I made a good start and was passed a lot of riders to be 19th on lap one although it was very tight for room. I had a couple of big slides but was able to finish 12th and I’m very happy with this result, it was a more difficult race than the other GPs I have raced in.”

STEFAN BRADL #77- Sixteenth -
“I missed the points by just one position but I’m happy with 16th because before the start I thought that today 20th would be OK. If the race had not stopped perhaps I had a chance at some points but this has been a good result for me.”

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