Top seven for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders

18/08/2013

Luis Salom finished in an admirable fifth place at Indianapolis despite racing injured, try while Arthur Sissis and Zulfahmi Khairuddin followed their teammate with a sixth and seventh, salve respectively.

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The Red Bull KTM Ajo team completed this Sunday’s race at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway with all riders placing in the top seven. Luis Salom finished fifth while riding with an injured left ankle sustain from a crash yesterday. The Spanish rider managed a great result despite riding in pain, with the fifth place allowing him to hang on to the Moto3 Championship lead. Arthur Sissis achieved his best performance of the year with a sixth, while Zulfahmi Khairuddin returned to the top 10 with a seventh place.

Arthur Sissis and Luis Salom both had superb race starts, completing the first lap in first and third position, respectively. The Australian then led the race for the first two laps, but was unable to maintain the pace and fell back alongside his teammates in the second group of riders behind the leading group.

Salom —who was nineteenth fastest in the morning warm up— had a tough race after injuring his left foot in a crash yesterday during qualifying. The Spanish rider stuck with the battle for fourth place for much of the race, until finally finishing  the race in fifth and Sissis in sixth.

Zulfahmi Khairuddin was able to keep pace alongside his teammates, end entered an exciting duel with Efren Vazquez. The Malaysian rider won the battle with Vazquez to cross the finish line in seventh position.

After nine races thus far this season, Luis Salom maintains his lead in the overall Moto3 standings with 183 points, 9 more than his nearest rival, Maverick Viñales. Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Arthur Sissis both have collected 49 points and occupy seventh and eighth in the standings.

The World Championship charges ahead, returning to Europe next week for the Czech Republic GP.

Results (Race)
1. Alex Rins (KTM) 41:37.200
2. Alex Marquez (KTM) +0.177
3. Maverick Viñales (KTM)  +1.076
4. Jonas Folger (Kalex KTM) +8.638
5. Luis Salom (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +9.261
6. Arthur Sissis (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +14.439
7. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +18.602

 

Moto3 World Championship
1. Luis Salom (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 183 points

2. Maverick Viñales (KTM) 174 points
3. Alex Rins (KTM) 167 points
4. Jonas Folger (Kalex KTM) 94 points
5. Alex Marquez (KTM) 90 points
7. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Red Bull KTM Ajo)  49 points
8. Arthur Sissis (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 49 points

 

Luis Salom >> Audio
“It was a difficult weekend. After the crash yesterday, finishing a race and taking fifth place is a good result. I think that I could maybe have clinched fourth, but I overtook Arthur [Sissis] under a yellow flag and had to give back the position –which lost us some time. Fifth place, with how my fitness was, is very good.”

Arthur Sissis >> Audio
“The race went rather well. We began with a good start and I was able to lead a race for the first time on the opening laps. On the first five times around the tyre was sliding around a lot, but later on the grip improved. I was not able to stick with the lead group, so I rode with Luis [Salom] and Jonas [Folger] just behind. They got away on the final laps and I finished sixth. I think that the GP was a good one and I am happy, so I hope to continue in this way at Brno.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin >> Audio (eng) >> Audio (mal)
“The race was a good one for us. I got a good start, but past the midway point it was difficult to overtake Vazquez in a fast group. In the end, we placed seventh. This was a very good weekend for me and for the team. We did a good job and we found the best setup for a strong race. I hope to be able to continue working like this over the coming races.”

Aki Ajo >> Audio (eng) >> Audio (fin)
“We should be very happy with how this raceday went. Regarding Luis [Salom], on Friday and Saturday we didn’t have the easiest of days. On Saturday we found a good setup, but after the big crash we didn’t know if he could contest the race. I have to thank the doctors for their hard work. They gave him a painkilling injection and he was able to finish the race, keeping the series lead with a gutsy display. Arthur [Sissis] and Fahmi [Zulfahmi Khairuddin] made me very happy. Maybe the first half of the season didn’t go as they would have liked, but after the summer break they have come back with a changed mentality. I am very confident that they will both get good results in the rest of the year. The end result for the team has been really good.”

 

*Audio only for radio use

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