VOL. 51 ISSUE 8 FEBRUARY 25, 2014 P27
the winner of this year's Dakar
Rally.
"I'm really excited for this new
chapter in my career and very
grateful for the opportunity from
KTM," Sunderland said. "It's go-
ing to be great to work with the
huge experience of the team and
I hope I can prove myself with
good results to return the confi-
dence they've put into me. The
team has won for 13 years in a
row and it's a huge opportunity
for me to race with a team with
that much experience. When I
met the team I had a great feel-
ing, like friends straight away,
which is a huge part of the whole
deal, because in the Dakar it's
stressful and tiring, so the rela-
tionships are important to be able
to work together in the toughest
times. The bike is proven; I've not
ridden it yet, but I'm really excited
and looking forward to that. It
looks great and with first and sec-
ond this year it's obviously great
for the job. I am working really
hard with my training right now
and I can't wait to get started."
KALLIO LEADS
JEREZ TEST
M
arc VDS's Mika Kallio smashed the Jerez
Moto2 lap record by over a second on the final
day in Spain last week, posting a time of 1:42.169
to finish the three days of testing at the top of the
timesheet. Kallio's teammate Tito Rabat had led the
Valencia test the week prior, giving the Marc VDS
team plenty to smile about.
Rabat looked all set to repeat the success of
Valencia, after finally ousting Tom Lüthi from the
number-one slot on the timesheet with a time of
1:42.223. But shortly after calling a halt to testing,
the 24-year-old Spaniard had to sit and watch as his
teammate finally denied him the top spot.
"The first two days we confirmed the settings
we tested in Valencia, keeping our preferred tires
for the race and qualifying simulations today," Kal-
lio said. "In the race simulation I was happy with
my speed and consistency, with my best and worst
laps separated by just half a second. In the quali-
fying simulation I finally had the feeling that was
missing last year - the feeling of being on the limit.
I knew I was on a fast lap, but it's always good to
see it confirmed on the timesheet, especially when
your name is on the top! Okay, it's only testing, but
it all builds confidence ahead of the first race."
American Josh Herrin, meanwhile, ended the
three-day test 26
th
– 1.563 seconds off Kallio's best.
"Today we learned a lot about set-up and I felt
more comfortable on the bike," Herrin said after
the third and final day of the test. "We are returning
home feeling confident and knowing that we will
improve even more at the test here in two weeks.
Overall I think we have accomplished a lot in Jerez.
I am happy that straight after my crash yesterday I
was able to rebound and achieve a personal best
time and I am pleased with how much data we have
collected on the Caterham Suter. I want to thank all
of my team for working so hard and supporting me
throughout."
Mika Kallio
broke the
Moto2 lap
record at
Jerez last
week.
Josh Herrin continued
his Moto2 pre-season
tests in Jerez,
ending up
with the 26
best time.
