Vincent sacked by KTM

Winther · 6 Aug 2003, 11:38 (Ref:681176)

Hmm that was not unexpected, Mikka Kallio has replaced him as rider.
Wonders what has taken place at KTM?

ASCII Man · 6 Aug 2003, 13:12 (Ref:681243)

Hmmm, champion takes a huge risk by joining a new team, new team makes awful bike, champ get's the blame?

That's so Toyota...

429CJ · 6 Aug 2003, 17:56 (Ref:681458)

When I heard this, I was like

, I was pretty sure , Kallio was changing the team for 2004, but he replacing the last years champ during the season, I did not see that coming.

x_dt · 6 Aug 2003, 19:21 (Ref:681524)

Any sign of Vincent finding a new team in 125cc or some other category? Surely the reigning champion won't spend too long on the sidelines.

Marcel ten Caat · 6 Aug 2003, 19:28 (Ref:681533)

Jan Witteveen of Aprilia has said he wants him back and is trying to find a seat for him at any of the Aprillia teams.

f1manoz · 7 Aug 2003, 03:00 (Ref:681717)

This is what was reported on Motograndprix.com:

Quote:

Reigning World Champion Arnaud Vincent has been sacked by the new KTM team. The Frenchman is to be ´released immediately from his contract´ and his vacant ride will be taken by Finnish rider Mika Kallio for the rest of the season.

A statement released by the Austrian manufacturer acknowledged that ´Arnaud Vincent remains a very fast and experienced rider, but it has been very difficult to develop a brand new motorcycle around the expectations of the current World Champion.´

The press release went on to say: ´KTM decided to make this rider change due to the lack of progress in the team’s development. KTM feels that the new motorcycle is coming on well but the improvements have not been shown in the results. KTM hopes that a new rider will bring fresh motivation to the team and that the bike shows it’s true potential during the next races. KTM will strive to build on the top 10 results already achieved during 2003, with the aim of being competitive for podium places in 2004.

Kallio has signed on the dotted line for the remainder of 2003 and also the 2004 campaign. His first race for KTM – Red Bull will be in Brno on August 16th.

Vincent will probably on a seat in Brno. I don't think there'll be much chance of him sitting on the sidelines for too long.

marcus · 7 Aug 2003, 05:37 (Ref:681755)

Vincent is a great rider and I think its both a shame and crazy for KTM to sack him , but on the plus side if he can land a good Aprillia we may see him back up the front very soon.

I thought KTM were making pretty good progress with their bike , apparently not good enough.

good luck Arnaud I hope you not out for too long.

William Dale Jr · 7 Aug 2003, 07:41 (Ref:681786)

That's just the sort of inner stability that a new team needs to be able to find it's feet and move forward...

Hope he's puts a factory Aprilia on the front row at Brno!

elephino · 7 Aug 2003, 10:53 (Ref:681906)

It's all very odd really. My guess is they weren't happy with each other and decided to part ways by releasing a nutso press release.

429CJ · 7 Aug 2003, 14:25 (Ref:682034)

Ajo Motorsport was also not very impressed either after losing their driver, which had contract to the end of 2004. And legal action WILL happen.

**gomick** · 8 Aug 2003, 06:14 (Ref:682544)

honda should grab him and see if he can help make pedrosa's title run a little bit easier

Bleu · 9 Aug 2003, 18:47 (Ref:683804)

Rumours says that Ajo Motorsport has made Vincent an offer at least for Brno.

Aki Ajo wasn't very pleased for Kallio's move.

I think this will change Mika's latter part of the season much, and he will not get better than last year. But I hope KTM will get better and better, and next year few wins or at least podiums would be possible.

This year Kallio has also suffered by Bridgestone tyres (contract through Azuma's relationship), as all top riders are on Dunlops. KTM is riding on Dunlops though.

asha · 10 Aug 2003, 02:16 (Ref:683960)

i thought it was odd that vincent signed with a team that hadn't done one lap for a GP race in the first place!

chunder · 10 Aug 2003, 09:05 (Ref:684075)

From what I understand, Arnaud was very happy in the team and was actually getting the better results, you cannot expect a brand new team and bike to win straighaway. Derbi only did it coz they were basically using old Yamaha engines and technology, hence why Ui rode for them
Apparently Arnaud had a disagreement with an engineer and went on his own direction with the bike, his results were getting better but the team obviously thought otherwise and sacked him. Maybe the combined wages of Locatelli and Vincent were too much.
There are rumours that Arnaud might take Kallio's place in his old team aswell.

429CJ · 14 Aug 2003, 17:40 (Ref:688370)

Hiroyuki Kikuchi, 38, is the new Ajo Motorsport Honda driver for the reminder of the season. He's driven this season in the Japanese 125cc championships and is the test driver of the Bridgestone tire company.

x_dt · 14 Aug 2003, 19:24 (Ref:688468)

Here's his profile and career record:
http://motogp.tiscali.com/en/motogp/..._30_career.htm

IIRC Kikuchi stood in for Ueda a few years back when Ueda was injured.

Schummy · 15 Aug 2003, 23:29 (Ref:689446)

Kallio's result in Friday Qual puts some weight in KTM arguments. Let's see how well he goes on Staurday and Sunday. I cannot believe two former WCs were on vacation in the team but...

429CJ · 16 Aug 2003, 19:12 (Ref:689897)

Not so well on second day (18th), but still way better than Locatelli with similar bike (27th).

Bleu · 17 Aug 2003, 13:30 (Ref:690317)

Great race by Kallio today, despite breaking his finger yesterday.

Best result of his career and best result for KTM as well.

x_dt · 17 Aug 2003, 13:36 (Ref:690323)

Quite amazing race from Kallio. If KTM can't win any races this year (prior to Brno that looked very unlikely) then surely they will win races next year, and it will be Kallio that delivers their first win.

Has Finland ever come close to success in bike racing before?

Junior Senior · 17 Aug 2003, 15:00 (Ref:690371)

Kikuchi didn't race today, at 38 isn't he "too old" to be a newcomer in 125cc GP, a potential wildcard for the Brit GP wasn't allowed to race and he wasn't that old!

Junior Senior · 17 Aug 2003, 15:02 (Ref:690372)

x-dt, you haven't heard of the late, great Jarno Saarinen then? One of the all time greats.

x_dt · 17 Aug 2003, 15:08 (Ref:690374)

I've heard that name somewhere but know nothing about him.

Dani Filth · 17 Aug 2003, 15:32 (Ref:690387)

saarinen the last great nordic bike racer ... back to Kallio .. it was a great race for him ... but with 4 top runners droping .........................................

f1manoz · 18 Aug 2003, 00:06 (Ref:690669)

But Kallio kept it on the road, and that's the important thing. Although it was a mildly lucky result, Kallio out-raced his team-mate and basically did better in one race than either Vincent or Locatelli have managed all season.

Although we cannot vindicate KTMs decision just from one race, perhaps they have made a good move afterall...

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