Incredible debut for 250 KTM

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM had one of the most remarkable debuts of any racing machine in history when it gave its new KTM Grand Prix 250 its first outing in the hands of Australian rider Anthony West at the British MotoGP round. The 250 class is highly competitive with any one of a dozen riders capable of winning on any day, and a machinery war between Honda and Aprilia that keeps improving the two-stroke breed, minute-by-minute, making it nigh-on-impossible for a new bike to break into the top echelon of 250 racing. So despite KTM’s illustrious off-road racing pedigree, and a fine showing from its recently created 125 roadracer, it was not expected to be competitive for some time yet, given that it had only been ridden ONCE prior to arriving at the Grand Prix. Then West had the new motor seize up in practice at over 200km/h. And then it rained, but West won an Australian dirt track title when he was 15 years old, and is comfortable with a bike sliding. What happened?

Unfortunately for West and the fans and KTM, it wasn’t the full fairy-tale result. In the closing stages of the race he was baulked by lapped riders while contesting the lead with Frenchman Randy de Puniet, costing him vital yards on the last lap and forcing him to settle for second place, but the final result was far more than anyone could have expected. Prior to the race, the team’s ambitions were clearly stated in a press release on the Saturday evening prior to the event that the team was hoping West might score championship points. Championship points extend to 15th place - the team was hoping that Anthony might get in the top 15 finishers.

West walked away unhurt from a 200 kph crash in the Saturday morning free practice session when the engine seized in a fifth gear corner. “I was flat out in fifth gear when the motor seized and threw me over the front of the bike and I thought : ‘This is going to hurt.’, said West after practice. “But it was OK and I was able to continue on the second bike.”

“Unfortunately the crashed bike was a little faster so my qualifying time was not as quick as it could have been. But things are going well considering this is our first GP with a new bike; the set-up feels good and the team is working well. Now I’m hoping for a trouble free race and to try and score some points.”

As part of the test program for the 250 project the KTM team have been evaluating two engine configurations at Donington, with both 90 and 180 degree firing order.

The 90 degree motor currently delivers stronger acceleration and two identical motors of this specification are being prepared for next week’s German GP at the Sachsenring.

KTM’s Technical and Managing Director Harald Bartol said of the crash, “We are still in a development phase with the new KTM 250 so it is normal to have some initial problems.”

“Anthony’s crash was caused by a broken conrod, but we understand the problem and it’s all part of racing a new bike. For the German GP we will have two engines in the same configuration, with the 90 degree firing order, which will make it easier for Anthony who has done a good job so far and shown us the strong potential of the bike.”

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