KTM 125cc factory riders tackle season's opening GP in Qatar

2009-04-11 14:13
Red Bull KTM factory rider Marc Marquez narrowly missed a second row grid position for Sunday's opening 125cc GP racing under lights on the Losail circuit in Qatar.

The 16-year old Spaniard was denied his second row slot in the last seconds of the qualifying session but is still looking confident for the race on Sunday evening. Marquez was also ninth fastest in the free training. The Qatar GP is the only night race on the calendar.

Marquez in his second season and raring to go
"Things went well for us, more or less," the 16-year old Spaniard said. "At the beginning of the Grand Prix practice we ran into a few problems we had not had before, but my technicians were able to sort them out and I could increase my speed. The engine feels strong but there's still room for improvement with the chassis but considering the short amount of track time, we can't complain. My goal now is to get a good start in the race and to hang on to the leading group." Marquez did add that the much more experienced pole man and countryman Julian Simon was looking strong. "He's had a lot of experience in the 125 and the 250 category but I'm only in my second year of Grand Prix racing. We have to be patient and try to get closer bit by bit." Team boss Harald Barton also said there was work to do on the set up. "As far as the bike is concerned, the engine is very good but we do have some work to do on the chassis," he said.

Beaubier back on the bike after earlier crash
It has also been an eventful week for Marquez's Red Bull KTM factory teammate the 16-year-old American Cameron Beaubier who crashed during tests last Tuesday, dislocating his shoulder and sustaining a nasty bang on the head. Beaubier, in his rookie year with the team, was back on the bike in preparation for the race and finished twenty second in the field in the qualifying. "Yesterday was okay and today I was just trying to get the feeling back for being on the bike. This is my first weekend so I don't need to rush," Cameron said. Asked about the experience of racing under the lights at Qatar, he commented: "It's difficult but the track's fun. You can't really notice its night time on the track. The lights light up the track perfectly." Cameron was also cautiously confident about being able to race on Sunday. "I think it will be fine. I hope to get a good start and we'll go from there."


Results qualifying
1. Julian Simon, Spain, Aprilia, lap time 2'06.974
2. Bradley Smith, Britain, Aprilia, 2'07.107
3. Andrea Iannone, Italy, Aprilia, 2'07.588
4. Nicolas Terol, Spain, Aprilia, 2'07.781
5. Sandro Cortese, Germany, Derbi, 2'07.835
Other KTM
9. Marc Marquez, Spain, KTM 2'08.417
22. Cameron Beaubier, USA, KTM, 2'10.248

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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