Kallio takes surprise 250cc victory after Bautista-Simoncelli crash

Mika Kallio was the winner of a spectacular 250cc race in Jerez, taking perhaps the most unexpected victory he is ever likely to achieve. The Red Bull KTM rider looked to be on course for a third consecutive podium, behind Alvaro Bautista and Marco Simoncelli, until a final lap crash between the duo gifted the Finn a memorable triumph.

The battle of the race was precisely between the Spaniard and the Italian, as Mapfre Aspar rider and quarter litre poleman Bautista went wheel to wheel with his unpredictable Metis Gilera rival. Simoncelli was glued to the rear wheel of the home rider´s Aprilia RSA, taking the lead for only the briefest of moments. Realising that a final push was necessary, the winner of the 2004 125cc race in Jerez tried to sneak up the inside of Bautista, with the two colliding as the latter´s engine gave out.

Kallio´s win was his third in the category, and puts him second in the World Championship. The new leader also came from an unlikely source, as Qatar racewinner Mattia Pasini moved up from tenth on the grid for second place. After his 125cc disaster last year, few could begrudge Pasini´s Spanish newfound fortune, which was augmented as he passed JiR Team Scot rider Yuki Takahashi on the home straight.

Hiroshi Aoyama completed a great day for Red Bull KTM with fourth place, ahead of Pepe Team Toth´s Hector Barbera and Lotus Aprilia front row man Alex Debon. Both paid the price for bad starts, and Debon´s day could have worsened if he hadn´t have made a Colin Edwards-esque save when he looked to be crashing out.

Julian Simon –who nearly collided with Simoncelli early in the race- finished seventh, ahead of Metis Gilera´s Roberto Locatelli in a well ridden return to racing in Jerez for the latter. Alexi Espargaro and Lukas Pesek completed the top ten.

Swiss rider Thomas Luthi added to the potential podium crash count, highsiding his Emmi-Caffe Latte Aprilia when chasing Kallio with just four laps to go.