Testing 2008 - 250s: KTM top Jerez test

Eurosport - Mon, 28 Jan 12:34:00 2008

Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama ensured that KTM topped the timesheets at the first 250cc world championship test of the year at Jerez.

Finn Kallio, 25, who won twice in his rookie season last year, ended the three days at the Spanish Grand Prix venue with the quickest time of 1:43.303 on the final day, while Aoyama was two tenths of a second slower.

The results of the test though, remain inconclusive as, on full fuel loads and with race tyres over the first two days, the duo found themselves a tenth or two behind the pace set by Alvaro Bautista and Tom Luthi.

Third overall was the Toth Aprilia of Hector Barbera with Bautista's Aspar bike and Alex Debon's Lotus Aprilia next up.

Luthi's Caffe Latte bike, Marco Simoncelli on the best of the Gileras and the Aspar Aprilia of Hector Faubel completed the top eight and were the only other riders to dip under the 1:44 barrier during the three days.

Czech rider Karel Abraham was surprisingly high up the order in ninth place, while Debon's new team-mate Aleix Espargaro completed the top ten.

Gilera rider Roberto Locatelli had crashes on both days two and three, with the former accident coming at the Peluqui corner - the scene of the crash that saw him almost lose both feet last year. He was unhurt.

Lukas Pesek and 2003 champion Manuel Poggiali both came off their Aprilias on day two while Russell Gomez also had a light fall.

After sampling a 2008-spec Aprilia for the first time on day one, Irishman Eugene Laverty found five seconds worth of pace during the test and ended up 15th fastest.