Kallio prepares for Mugello GP - season premiere with the 2014 chassis

The Moto2 world championship season continues this weekend in Italy, on the much loved track of Mugello. Mika Kallio has chosen this GP, which serves as his home race for the season, to execute a drastic change and revert to the Kalex chassis of 2014. Kallio and his team Italtrans have taken on a massive operation and gathered all the parts necessary to build a bike similar to the one used last year, in order to improve their performance towards the Italian GP. It has not been an easy process, but all the needed components are now present and are waiting to be installed to the old chassis. 

 -The team has worked hard in order to secure us all the parts we used in the bike last year. Some of them, take the swing arm for instance, are tailor made: In that sense we are lucky to have them now in the first place. Tomorrow will be an interesting day, since we will find out how the new assembly works on track. My aim is to run as many laps as possible in the free practices of Friday, just to get acquainted with the new set-up. I trust that this was a right decision to make and I am eager to get on the bike as soon as possible. Also, I believe this change will have a positive effect on the results, which is something we all badly desire, Kallio reported. 

 Changing the chassis is not a minor operation to be performed, especially during mid-season. Some factory teams are used to this procedure due to chassis upgrades produced in between races, but the process requires changing simultaneously several key parts and spares along with the bike itself. 

 -This is not a small thing to do, I am aware of that, but crucial for me and something we should have done already earlier. Some teams change bikes during the season, but mostly due to factory upgrades. Rarely riders prefer the older versions, but I have to point out I am not the only rider now running the 2014 bike. I was just the last one to make the change. All in all I am happy with the decision and my motivation is now at top level for the upcoming weekend, I can’t wait to start the free practices, Kallio stated eagerly. 

 The Mugello track is one commonly preferred by the riders and Kallio is happy to be back on the rider’s seat, having participated to his home town Monaco’s F1-week before the race, naturally as a spectator. 

 -I quite like the Mugello track, due to its fine construction. It is a so-called old school race track with a lot of speed and vertical variety. The audience is great and the overall atmosphere is really nice. Last week I took part in another popular motorsports event, the Formula 1 in Monaco, but I have to say I prefer riding more than watching. It is nice to be back in action here in Mugello and do what I enjoy most, Kallio finished.

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