NEWS GP 250cc

Aoyama fifth in KTM’s final 250 cc GP in Valencia; Kallio off on final lap Red Bull KTM factory rider Hiroshi Aoyama put in a brave and determined ride to finish fifth in Sunday’s 250 cc GP in Valencia to conclude a proud chapter in road racing history for the orange bikes “Made in Austria”. Teammate Mika Kallio was not so lucky. After putting in a do-or-die dash for final victory in a display of riding that illustrated the determination, skill and passion of the Finnish rider, Kallio in hot pursuit of leader Marco Simoncelli, crashed out of second position only a few corners from the finish line. He got back on the bike and crossed the finish line in eleventh place. Kallio was treated for abrasions on the fourth finger of his left hand in the medical centre but luckily, he escaped without any other injuries. Simon and Kalli Even though Aoyama lost engine power early on in the race due to a small problem on one of the two cylinders, the 27-year-old Japanese rider pushed his bike to the limit all along the way, and managed to defend his strong position in the second group of riders. Repsol KTM rider Julian Simon had, together with Kallio, dominated the race in the early stages, swapping the lead back and forth between them. But as the race progressed Simon dropped back through the order and finally was forced to retire in front of his home crowd when his engine started to lose water and overheated.