Positive first day for Red Bull KTM Ajo in Valencia

11/02/2014

 Jack Miller sets second fastest time of first day of official testing and Karel Hanika, twelfth, debuts at the Spanish track.
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The first official Moto3 test of the year started today on the same stage where the 2013 season concluded: The Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. New riders for Red Bull KTM Ajo, Jack Miller and Karel Hanika debuted with their KTM bikes at this track, having previously ridden in Almeria. Both achieved good results and, above all, positive impressions of the machine. The Australian, with a lap of 1:40.355, set the second fastest time of the day and Karel Hanika —1:41.526— was twelfth.

A cold morning, with track temperatures of 10 ºC, greeted the Moto2 and Moto3 riders on the first day of official testing for the 2014 season. Nevertheless, the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders came prepared to further improve their adaptation to the KTM.

Miller led the timesheets on various stages of the day, improving his laps session after session. So did Karel Hanika, riding for the first time at the track. He lowered his morning time by a second before the end of the day. On the last lap of the session, both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders crashed without serious consequences at Turn 11.

Testing will continue tomorrow at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, in the second of three days of testing planned for this week.

Combined Standings – Day 1
1. Niccolo Antonelli (KTM) 1:40.000
2. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:40.355 +0.355
3. Romano Fenati (KTM) 1:40.555 +0.555
4. Isaac Viñales (KTM) 1:40.675 +0.675
5. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) 1:41.029 +1.029
12. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.526 +1.526

Jack Miller – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Audio
“It was a good first day of testing. The weather has not been very favourable for us but we put in a few times which were good. We were second and the truth is that we are not so far from the top, so tomorrow we will fight for the best lap time. The feeling is a bit contrasting to what we had at Almeria last week, so the goal tomorrow will be to improve my front end feel. Also my riding, to try not to suffer another crash.”

 Karel Hanika – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Audio
“The truth is that I started very well. At first I was not going very fast because I was learning the circuit; it’s my first time here, and the weather was not very good. However, at the end we improved. I suffered a crash on the last lap and hurt my right wrist, but I guess it will be fine tomorrow. We shall continue to work on the rear of the bike, but also I have to improve my riding style on some corners .

This is a nice circuit, but some corners are very complicated and you have to find the right way to take them. However, little by little we are learning the secrets to each turn.”

 

*Audio solely for radio use

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