Vincent 'astonished' by KTM dismissal.

Reigning 125cc world champion Arnaud Vincent has spoken of his 'astonishment' at being sacked by the KTM team nine races into the 2003 season - indeed, the Frenchman seems as surprised as everyone at the Austrian team's decision.

In a further twist he is yet to receive official notice of his contract being terminated - which he needs to join another team - and says if he doesn't get it by Brno then he'll turn up at the KTM garage ready to ride.

"All I know is that they (KTM) are not satisfied with the results and that they decided to put an end to our collaboration," Vincent told his personal website arnaudvincent.com. "I'm astonished, but it's their choice, they think it's the right thing to do."

So far this season, Vincent has comfortably outpaced team-mate Roberto Locatelli - and indeed it looked like if anyone would go it would be the Italian. However, Vincent has described a personality clash with the team's chassis engineer, which he believes was the real cause of his dismissal.

"They wanted me to leave, there must be something about me that they don't like," added Arnaud. "All I can think is that I did not agree with the person that took care of the chassis - and since I stopped working with him, the bike worked a lot better. I get on well with all the team, except this person. In my opinion, they had to choose between him and me.

"What a pity because I'm sure I could have really achieved something with this bike. If the motor worked better, we could have fought for wins. I signed up for two years and the story finishes after six months. I knew since the beginning of the year that we'd have problems, I knew that awaited me with KTM. I made a choice and stuck with it 100%. I never felt sorry for myself."

The statement released by KTM spoke of 'unrealistic expectations' on Vincent's behalf as the reigning world champion - something he says was never even spoken about.

"I have never been confronted with these problems previously, so you could safely say I'm a little shocked. I returned from training and just had a call to say I'd been sacked because I was lacking motivation - but that is absolutely not the case," he stated. "I do sport everyday, I train like a maniac while the bike does not work. This is really strange..."

KTM also announced that young Finn Mika Kallio, yet to win a GP, has been signed from the AJO Motorsports team to replace Vincent from Brno onwards - a decision that further stunned the current #1.

"This (Kallio's signing) is more than the limit. I don't understand. They think that the bad results came from me and that better results will come from other riders? For me, this is a big disappointment. I gave so much... everyone in the paddock knows - except KTM, apparently," he sighed.

Despite the disappointment, Vincent must now try and find a new team for the remainder of the 2003 season and beyond - with Kallio's team having offered him a ride in what would be a straight swap. However, without his official dismissal papers, he can't sign for another team.

"Already, I want to finish the season. I want to rediscover a bike that works well and get good results," Vincent declared. "But this is a very difficult decision to live with. Since yesterday, I cannot be lower. I am champion of the world and out of a job. Kallio's team have offered me a ride at Brno, but I need time to think about it.

"I was supposed to receive (the dismissal letter) today but it didn't arrive. I absolutely need it to complete the season because I can't ride for another team without it," he explained. "If I do not receive anything before Brno (on August 15), I will be in the KTM garage on Friday morning, at 9am, ready to roll.

"KTM has not given a good impression of itself within the championship by behaving in this manner towards me," Vincent concluded.