125cc – Losail QP2 – KTM saves itself with Kallio

Mika Kallio, gross errors aside, is a great rider. They know this well at KTM, who ensured it until 31 December 2007, and they know they can always count on him to save a technical situation which sees Matthigofen's RR125s lagging behind the Aprilias. The reigning Finnish vice world champion put on a great show, risking falling to the ground several times but eventually obtaining third place on the grid.

“Free practice in the morning was difficult: the set-up choices gave us different parameters, so the choice was really difficult. It was difficult to find the right feeling with the bike, and in the afternoon we achieved a good third position. Of course, we could have aimed for pole position, but I encountered several slow riders who didn't give me the path so easily. Plus I risked falling on several occasions... Let's think about tomorrow.”

Further back, tenth, Julian Simon, decidedly subdued in Qatar.

“I am not happy with this position of mine. I'm half a second behind Mika Kallio, so obviously we had the potential to do better. I'm sorry because I like the circuit, and tomorrow I will certainly aim for a good start to immediately climb back to the top positions.”

Alessio Piana