KTM is confirmed in Jerez with its pilots

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Will still chrono "unofficial", but between Valencia and Jerez the KTM seem to have something more than the competition, whether the five officers dell'Ajo M32 KTM Motorsport KALEX or four-KTM team Aspar and RW Racing GP. At the end of the test well in Andalucia 8 pilots pushed the single-cylinder 250cc 4-stroke made ​​in Mattighofen found themselves in the top-10, led by the young Briton Danny Kent, a real revelation of this "pre-season" written by the official with the M32 Red Bull KTM Factory Team.

Vice-champion Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2010 (winner of Race 1 at Jerez right), ranking 2 nd in the "Rookie of the Year" in 2011 with an Aprilia GP 125 RSW (three races while arguing with RSA), Danny Kent does not can only be satisfied with the responses that emerged from the Jerez test, finding himself on the top list of the times in all three test days.

" Everything went well , "says the talented British driver. " The feelings are positive, there were problems and chronometric references to prove it. On the final day of testing, we also tried a long run with good responses, always discovering something new. "

Some more problems instead of dominating the previous trials in Valencia, Sandro Cortese , fell ruinously into Day 2, but manage to complete the program of work and development on behalf of KTM Racing and Ajo Motorsport technicians. " It happens to fall when you are forcing the pace. Anyway, I'm happy: despite setbacks we are always there in the lead ", did you know the German driver.

Budget therefore positive for KTM and Ajo Motorsport, as reaffirmed in no uncertain terms by Aki Ajo, owner of the team and team manager for the official formation Ajo Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team . " Jerez is a circuit with different characteristics compared to Valencia. We did not encounter major problems, the bikes and the engine is delivering the expected responses, so we focused our work mainly on the general set-up package. Now for us and our development department KTM Racing is facing three weeks of hard work to prepare for upcoming tests and, of course, for the start of the 2012 season. "

source: bikeracing.it

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Maverick Vinales "I hope to keep up with the KTM"

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Times "unofficial" in hand, between Valencia and Jerez Maverick Vinales was the only rider to counter the hegemony of high-ranking positions in KTM. The "Rookie of the Year 2011", winner of four races (Le Mans, Assen, Sepang, Valencia) in the solo debut season in MotoGP, he stopped the clock sull'1'47 "5, enough to place themselves in second place Danny Kent overall behind (KTM), showing all their potential velocistico.

"Mack", European champion and 125 Spanish GP 2010, now expects a response from the Honda, designed to introduce a "step motor" for its FTR M312 for the forthcoming official test program, again at Jerez, from 19 to March 21.

"From these tests we have taken the positive findings , "says Vinales, pilot of ' Racing Avintia ex-BQR Team. " We worked very hard following the right direction in the development. Compared to Valencia we have made ​​progress in defining the cycle, but most of the engine. Here we have to improve, but I think from here to the next test, with the help of Honda, we can bridge the gap with competitors velocistico: I hope I will be an opportunity to keep up with the KTM.

Comparisons aside, here in Jerez we were to 1 "from the times of 125, a sign that we made ​​really strong and that we can further improve from here to three weeks for the next scheduled testing, presenting the best possible for the first race Qatar. "

source: bikeracing

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Danny Kent boosted by early Moto3 speed

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British teenager Danny Kent got a major pre-season boost in Valencia last week when he ended the first major Moto3 test with the fourth quickest time.

The Red Bull KTM rider has made a brilliant transition to the new 250cc four-stroke class having impressed in his first full season in the Grand Prix paddock last year on an Aprilia two-stroke 125cc machine.

A best lap of 1.41.2 was only 0.3s off the best pace during the three-day Valencia test and Kent said he was thrilled to have gelled so quickly with the new four-stroke Moto3 machine.

He told MCN: “The test last week was really good and I learned a lot as a rider. I went in with an open mind and didn’t really know what to expect but the four-stroke seems to be suiting my style a lot.

"I felt really comfortable on it from day one and each practice session I got more comfortable. It is really a lot different than riding a two-stroke but I haven’t taken too long to get used to it and I’m really happy with it.”

Kent also praised the work of Austrian manufacturer KTM for the development work done on its new Moto3 project.

Kent’s German team-mate Sandro Cortese ended the Valencia test fastest and the 18-year-old added: “They have come in this year and obviously they want to win the championship because already we have got a really good package.

"Since I got on the KTM I’ve had a really good feeling with it. KTM has done a really good job already to get to where they are and with an experienced test rider like Joan Olive on board the bike is going to be getting better throughout the year.”

source: MCN

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Niklas Ajo to campaign KTM Factory bike in Moto3

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Expectations for the 17 year-old in the new class are high as he enters his second full season at the Grand Prix level, continuing with his team led by Terrell Thien. Both rider and team manager are happy with the new Austrian factory KTM bikes, which the team will test for the first time at Valencia on January 30 and 31.

Niklas Ajo: 

"This feels really great. It’s such a great chance to compete with a KTM bike since the Factory is well known and respected in the motorcycle racing world. I really look forward to the testing. I have to say, we feel quite confident now, we have experience from last season from all the circuits so we are sort of more on the same playing field with the other guys. And to race with a KTM bike gives me a boost for sure. Of course, it is also a big plus to continue with the same team for next year. It really feels we have a great package for the 2012 Moto3 season!"

Terrell Thien: 

"Niklas really proved his talent last year, and it is a great pleasure to continue with him. He is very committed to his work and racing, and I think he is one of the most talented and promising young riders I’ve seen. To work with a well known factory such as KTM is a great chance for us, so we are really looking forward to the coming season and the first tests."

source: MotoGP Official

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First Look: KTM's Moto3 entry

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KTM'S entry for the new 250cc Moto3 class has broken cover at a private test in Valencia.

The above bike will be ridden by Britain's Danny Kent, who lines-up in the three-rider factory Ajo team, alongside Sandro Cortese and Arthur Sissis.

The 250cc single is the Austrian manufacturer's official return to the MotoGP series. The Moto3 engine (shown below) was unveiled back in October in an event at Red Bull's Hanger 7, it was revealed to be incredibly light at a weight of only 23kg.

The Moto3 machine has been developed in-house at KTM, but to adhere to regulations the engine must be made available to other teams, priced at €12,000. German chassis builders Kalex have opted to utilise KTM's single-cylinder engine for its own Moto3 bike.

source: visordown

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Sissis joins Kent at Ajo KTM

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16-year-old Australian Arthur Sissis has signed to race for the factory-KTM backed Ajo Motorsport Team in the 2012 Moto3 World Championship.

Sissis will ride alongside fellow ex-Red Bull Rookie star Danny Kent, who raced for the Red Bull Ajo Aprilia team in this year's 125cc World Championship.

“It's a dream come true,” said Sissis, who finished second in the 2011 Rookie Cup behind Lorenzo Baldassarri. “This has been the best year of my life. I have learnt so much in the Rookies Cup. 

"I was a speedway rider before and learnt everything about road racing in the Cup. I know that racing in the GP class is a new challenge but I'm ready for it.”

Sissis rode from 30th on the grid to 20th on his 125GP debut for TT Motions Aprilia in the penultimate round of this season at Sepang. 

Kent finished eleventh overall in his first full year of grand prix, taking a best race finish of fourth.

15-year-old Italian Baldassarri is too young to race in GPs and will stay in the Rookies Cup for 2012.

source: crash

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KTM here is the prototype for Moto3

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This is a render, but it is the official image of what will be the next Moto3 KTM , presented during the ' exposure of the business plan took place a few days ago the Red Bull Hangar 7. The new 4-stroke single cylinder 250 is compact than ever, and a wraparound front fairing supports a stunted tail reminiscent of the race bikes of the years 50-60.

The frame, as is seen from behind the fairing, is a mixture of mast - at the top and middle - and at the swingarm pivot plates. The structure is very compact, but unfortunately we can not see how high the engine is positioned. The cover of the carbon reservoir is large and comes with one seat behind mandatory for its compact size.

The chassis is obviously of prime importance and all the traditional solutions and ultra-light, we find a strange-shaped front wheel. The races are very large, and occupies the entire frame in carbon in circumference. The guys Hellforleather expected a sort of "rotobox" or a brake energy recovery system (as in F1 cars), but the final version will have a traditional and ultra-light circle.

The engine will be the element that will scare the Japanese. The great experience of KTM in the small displacement 4-stroke has given way to develop a unit with radial valves and a weight of only 25kg , able to run at maximum speed of 14,000 g / min . In short, the bikes take to the track for testing the final version. Only then will we know if Honda will run for cover and develop new solutions.

source: motoblog

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