Kallio signs a two-year contract with KTM: Personal aim to return to MotoGP in 2017

Mika Kallio chases his dream as a factory team test rider for KTM with MotoGP-bikes in 2016 and 2017. Kallio will transfer to the prestigious Austrian team with a two-year contract after his Moto2-season is over in November. Kallio will participate in KTM’s development project and team’s entry plan for racing in MotoGP from the season of 2017. Kallio is contracted purely as a test rider so far, but his personal aims stand towards the race grid after his development job is successfully finished. The rider is extremely happy to return to the familiar orange family and eagerly awaits to get his hands on the new project. Even though Kallio faces at least a one year break from the World Championship races, his mind is already set on the future. 

-I have been looking for a good opportunity to work in the bigger class for a while now and when I heard about KTM’s plans to enter MotoGP in 2017, I realised this is my chance. During the past few years I have received several offers regarding racing with open-class MotoGP bikes, but I have yearned to get my hands on a truly competitive factory bike and thus have opted to stay in Moto2, to be able to fight for the podiums. There are a few more races to go and after the ongoing season is over, I will focus all my energy in doing a brilliant test rider job for KTM and see then where it gets me, Kallio commented. 

During the current season Kallio has raced in Moto2 with teams Italtrans and QMMF. Kallio is happy to return to work with the bigger bikes, not least for the reason of the technical struggles experienced this year. MotoGP will use Michelin tyres from next season onwards and Kallio has positive experiences on their tyres’ fit to his riding style. 

-I have done test rider and tyre development work for Michelin this year and I can see that whatever problems I have faced this year in Moto2, are not present with these tyres. I guess it is just a matter of personal riding style, but I look forward to leaving these difficulties behind and working with material which suits my personal preferences better, Kallio continued. 

Kallio and KTM share six successful years of common racing history and have accomplished three World Championship medals together. Returning to the familiar KTM-family brings a big smile on Kallio’s face. 

-This is actually the best possible crew for me to work with. We have such a nice and vast history together from the 125-cc class and we share a mutual appreciation for each other. I respect KTM’s way of working and believe that my broad riding experience and analytical skills are a good fit for this project. It is great to return to the orange family and world of MotoGP both at once. 

The two last Moto2 races for the year of 2015 will remain business as usual for Kallio and he will compete in QMMF’s colours during the upcoming weekend in Sepang and afterwards in Valencia for the season finale. Even though Kallio’s era in Moto2 is coming to an end, he is not feeling emotional, as he strongly states that his race career is not over yet by any means. 

-The decision was not easy to take, since signing with KTM results in at least a one year break for me from racing in the World Championship-level. I do not feel nostalgic in any way, since I don’t consider the two upcoming GP’s to be my last ones. I did receive a competitive offer from my current team QMMF for the Moto2-season of next year, and even though I feel good with them and have a big respect towards the team, I needed to follow my heart and dreams on this one. I chose to take a risk, become a test rider in MotoGP and hope that hard work will pay off later on, Kallio finished smiling. 

 

 Work continues at Sepang GP

 

The second last race of the season 2015 takes place in Sepang, Malaysia this weekend. The track, which is currently engulfed by smoke haze, will offer hot momentums for both the riders and spectators this weekend. During Malaysia GP, the air temperature typically rises over thirty degrees and the track surface temperatures soar over fifty degrees. Mika Kallio is ready for a heated battle and hopes that the good pace picked up in Australia will follow him to Malaysia as well. 

-Last weekend in Australia showed us that progress has taken place and our efforts to develop the bike have paid off. I have no clue yet how the new bike will work at the track of Sepang, but it is left to be seen. The past races have demonstrated us that our success depends quite a lot on the track profile fit towards the bike and I cannot guess yet how this will turn out. All I know is that the weather conditions are a complete opposite to those of Phillip Island, as it it always cold in Australia and here we operate in tropical conditions. The tyre mixes brought here are among the softest ones used on the whole Moto-tour, as on the track of Australia we use hardest tyre mixes. I hope for a good weekend, so let’s see how we get started, Kallio finished. 

 

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