1. Jorge Lorenzo (Apr RSV250), 21 laps, 68.229 miles, 44:17.095, 93.368 mph 2. Alvaro Bautista (Apr RSV250), -3.904 seconds 3. Andrea Dovizioso (Hon RS250R), -6.560 4. Alex de Angelis (Apr RSV250), -6.560 5. Mika Kallio (KTM RR250), -10.248 6. Hector Barbera (Apr RSV250), -10.502 7. Julian Simon (Hon RS250R), -10.823 8. Thomas Luthi (Apr RSV250), -30.484 9. Hiroshi Aoyama (KTM RR250), -32.895 10. Fabrizio Lai (Apr RSV250), -50.997 More, from a press release issued by KTM: Mika Kallio fifth in 250cc at Grand Prix of China Red Bull KTM factory rider Mika Kallio scored his best result since moving up from the 125 cc category at the beginning of the year, battling his way through to a great fifth place in Sunday’s 250cc race at the Grand Prix of China. After a problematic first day of practice on Friday and subsequent improvements on Saturday, race day confirmed that the team had made progress in the right direction with bike set-ups as they continue to gather both data and experience. Kallio stormed into the lead from his front row grid position, but had to give way to slightly faster Honda and Aprilia riders at the end of the second lap. From lap five on, he maintained a strong pace and tenaciously held onto his sixth position. The Finn then out-braked Spaniard Hector Barbera on the last lap and slipped past him for his fifth place finish. He finished the 21-lap race in 44 minutes 27.343, some 10 seconds off the winning pace. The Finn said he had enjoyed leading the pack in the opening stages of the race. “My start was very good again and I managed to slip into the lead, which felt great and lasted for almost two laps. But then, Dovizioso and the fastest Aprilia riders started to overtake, mainly on the straights, and it was very difficult for me to follow and keep up,” he said. Kallio’s lap times started to improve as the race progressed and his fuel tank got lighter although his rear tyre started to go in the closing stages. Nevertheless, he clearly enjoyed his best performance so far this season. “I got the same good feeling and sensation again that I had in final practice. So I took my chances and managed to outbrake Hector Barber at the last braking point, which felt good. This result is more than we expected for this weekend, and makes me very confident for the future!” Kallio’s factory teammate Hiroshi Aoyama was not far behind Kallio, securing ninth place. “This was a good race for us,” KTM’s “Hero” commented. “Of course ninth is not my dream position, but considering the past few races and our practice performance, it is definitely a step in the right direction and something to build on. My level of confidence grew from lap to lap, and despite a little mistake in mid-race when I ran wide and went alongside the track for a moment, I was able to constantly improve on my speeds. My fastest lap was in the last lap of the race and that is always a good sign!” The next round of the world road racing championships is in Le Mans, France on May 20. Results 1. Jorge Lorenzo, Spain, Aprilia, 44:17.095 2. Alvaro Bautista, Spain, Aprilia, 44:20.999 3. Andrea Dovizioso, Italy, Honda, 44:22.126 4. Alex De Angelis, San Moreno, Aprilia, 44:23.655 5. Mika Kallio, Finland, KTM, 44:27.343 9. Hiroshi Aoyama, Japan, KTM 44:49.990 Luck escapes Red Bull KTM GP 125 Team in China Lady Luck was not riding with the Red Bull KTM GP 125 team for the Moto Grand Prix of China on the Shanghai circuit this weekend with just one of the three riders crossing the finish line. Tomoyoshi Koyama was clearly competitive through most of the race. He stuck with the top group through most of the race and was all set for a final lap attack on the podium when his piston seized and he was forced to retire. “My bike was very fast today, the suspension settings were much better than in practice, and despite some rear wheel slides I was going really well in the first big group of riders. I planned an attack on the last lap and was hoping for another podium finish. But after the home straight, going into the first turn of the last lap, my bike just stopped with a piston seizure. I managed to get it going again, but in the hairpin, it stopped again,” the Japanese rider who is spending his first season with the Red Bull KTM team remained philosophic. “This is racing–I hope for better luck at the next race!” he said. Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher’s race had barely begun when he was it by another rider. He scrambled to get back in the race but with a damaged fairing and bent handlebars was forced to make a pit stop. Krummenacher eventually rejoined the race at the rear of the field and by his own admission had lost confidence and felt a bit shaken up. “I had a good start and was right within the pack on the first lap, when Federico Sandi banged into me, and we both went down. He landed right in front of me, and I hit and sort of jumped over his bike. I was able to continue, but the fairing was damaged and my handlebars were bent, so I came in for a pit stop. When I continued, I didn’t have the same level of concentration any more and felt tense. I just couldn’t find my rhythm again even though my bike was good and fast!” Young American dirt bike racer Steve Bonsey also leaves Shanghai with few good memories of Sunday’s race after he was taken out by another rider in the second lap. Bonsey had made a good start, overtaking other riders and making up positions when another rider clipped his handlebars and sent him flying. Bonsey sustained a blow to the head on landing and may have suffered a slight concussion. Bonsey and his team-mates now have until May 20 to prepare for the next attack, back in Europe at Le Mans. Results 1. Lukas Pesek, Czech Republic, Derbi, 42:25.923 2. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aprilia, 42:26.110 3. Eseve Rabat, Spain, Honda, 42:26.404 4. Gabor Talmacsi, Hungary, Aprilia, 42:26.705 5. Simone Corsi, Italy, Aprilia, 42:27.063 27. Randy Krummenacher, KTM, at one lap Tomoyoshi Koyama, KTM DNF Steve Bonsey, KTM DNF