Current Moto3 leader, Luis Salom returns to scene of his first victory. Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Arthur Sissis ready for demanding second half of the season.

Holidays are over for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team. Luis Salom, Zulfahmi Khairudddin and Arthur Sissis are back riding their KTM Moto3 machines after four weeks off the bike but engaging in intense training sessions. The 4.2km Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the start of the second half of the season, which begins with three consecutive weekends of racing. The Moto3 competition resumes with Luis Salom at the head of the overall standings.

Last year, Luis Salom topped the podium at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning his first race in the World Championship. This season he returns to the American track with five more wins to his name –including four this year– and as leader of the lower cylinder category. The Spanish Red Bull KTM Ajo rider hopes to continue with the form that has allowed him to keep on the podium throughout the year and take advantage of the work done in the test held in Slovakia in late July. Salom has 172 points after eight races, a new record in the lowest GP class since the current scoring system was introduced in 1993.

Teammate Zulfahmi Khairuddin, wants to change his fortunes from recent Grands Prix and has trained thoroughly throughout the summer break. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider finished in sixth place at Indianapolis last season and was inside the top five in qualifying.

Arthur Sissis aims to improve upon his placings inside the top ten, where he has finished in the last three races. Last year he was eleventh at this round, despite starting from twenty-second position. His training sessions have been tough this summer, as he looks to continue the good work that began at the last race in Germany.

Circuit information – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Length: 4.216 m / 2.620 miles
Width: 16 metres
Left corners: 10
Right corners: 6
Longest straight: 872 m / 0.542 miles
Constructed: 1909
Modified: 2007

Luis Salom,
“This break started with a test for KTM in Slovakia, where we did a very important job. I think it will be very useful for the second half of the season, which is sure to be tougher than the first. I’ve trained hard, although in Majorca it has been very hot and this has been exhausting. I think we’re ready to face the coming races. Indianapolis is one of my favorite tracks, although it is quite special. The different asphalt, which is quite broken up, means you always have to go for the good line. Otherwise it is very dirty and you lose a lot of grip. It has many slow corners and two very fast ones, that with the Moto3 bike you go into at full gas. I can’t wait for the GP, because it is a circuit which holds good memories for me, but I am aware that every race is different and that anything can happen.”

Arthur Sissis,
“This summer I have trained hard and prepared for the second half of the championship, which will be very long. Though it has been a lot of work, it has been fun. I spent the first week with Jack [Miller] in Germany and the rest of it we spent together in Tarragona. I’ve done motocross, mountain biking and all kinds of sports. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is rather difficult to ride, with little grip. Without a doubt, it is one of my favourite tracks. Maybe my favourite sector is the first one, with the quick corners. I hope to continue with the work we started in Sachsenring, which was pretty good. It will be important to improve in the qualifying session and try to place in the top ten in every session.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin,
“These past weeks I have been at home, in Malaysia, training and getting ready for the second part of the season. I’m confident and eager to do well during the rest of the year. The aim for the weekend will be to improve my practice positions to try to get into the leading group. I think we can do it, but it will be very important to have a good qualifying session. Over these past few days I’ve been going over the Grand Prix last year, where I did pretty well in qualifying and the race, with fifth and sixth place, respectively. It is a track that I like, although it is difficult and there is not very good grip. The fourth sector is my favorite and has a final corner will be decisive. It will be very important how you come out of it, because it can mean the difference between many positions. We must be vigilant.”