All posts tagged mika kallio

Moto2: Mika Kallio signs with Marc VDS Racing

By Toni M.

mika kallio

MotoGP rider Mika Kallio dropped out of the final two races of the season due to lingering shoulder problems, has found a ride in Moto2 for 2011 with Marc VDS Racing Team.

Kallio will be replacing Hector Faubel and will be paired up with Scott Redding and will debut in today’s Moto2 test at the Valencia circuit and also revealed that his new team is also thinking of moving to MotoGP in the future.

“I had quite a few options in Moto2 for next year, but with Marc VDS I know I’ve found the right team for me. Their results in the second half of the season show clearly that they are one of the top teams on the grid and with them I know I can make good results next year,”
said Kallio. “I’m sure there are some people who think this is a step backwards for me career wise, but I disagree. I think it is a great opportunity for me and I know that with this team I can be back at the front once again. The fact that the Marc VDS Racing Team are committed to stepping up to the MotoGP class in the future is also a very positive thing for me, as I still feel I have unfinished business there. Now I just need to get a feel for the Suter MMX, starting tomorrow morning (today) with my first test aboard the bike.”

Continue reading: Moto2: Mika Kallio signs with Marc VDS Racing

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Mikka Kallio looking towards Moto2

By Toni M.

mika kallio

Mika Kallio decided pulled out of the final two races of this season due to shoulder pain and try to get fit for next season with an eye on Moto2, but apparently the Finn will be fit enough, if he postpones surgery, to test a Moto2 bike at Valencia in the post season tests, if he should find a team.

Speaking of future plans, Kallio said, “At this point I do not know exactly what will happen. As I said, the priority was to continue in this category, but as everyone knows there are so few spots and it’s difficult to find a place, so I’m looking at Moto2, and Superbikes, but for now I think Moto2 would be the best option for me.”

Kallio’s name has been linked to a least two teams, one of which is Ajo Motorsports, but even finding a Moto2 team next season will be difficult task without sponsor money and the grid being slashed from the present forty riders to the thirty odd expected to race in 2011.

“There are two, three, four teams are possible options for me … but at the moment I do not know what will happen. I think maybe in a few days or a week we’ll know more, and of course after the Valencia race will be there for the first test.”

Source | motocuatro.com

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Official, Mika Kallio out of Pramac Ducati

By Toni M.

mika kallio

We known for several weeks that Mika Kallio was suffering from continuing shoulder pain and that after Carlos Checa tested the GP10 at the Mugello it was just a question of time before Pramac Ducati would announce Kallio’s pull-out from the final two races of the season.

Infact Pramac Ducati has issued a press release today confirming that the Finnish rider will leave the team with immediate effect.

“It is since Japan’s race that the pain in my left shoulder, injured in Le Mans race, has become too intense. I immediately talked to the Team who understood my situation and agreed that I would try to race in Malaysia and Australia and then decide to continue or not in the last two races,” said Kallio. “Unfortunately, despite the good race today, the pain didn’t allowed me to perform in the best way, together with the Team, we decided to conclude our partnership today. It has been a hard choice for me, but in this way I’ll be able to find the best physical condition and think about my future. I would like to thank Paolo Campinoti that was very helpful in managing this situation. I would like to also thank all the technical staff of the Pramac Racing Team with which I have found myself very well in this two year and I’ll always remember them with great affection. ”

Continue reading: Official, Mika Kallio out of Pramac Ducati

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Carlos Checa at the Mugello

By Toni M.

Carlos Checa has posted this brief video on Twitter of his test with the Ducati GP10 at the Mugello. Checa, who has officially renewed with WSBK team Althea Racing is testing the MotoGP bike after Mika Kallio requested (it now seems it was the Finn’s idea) to pull-out of the final two races of the season.

If Checa’s lap times are good and he decides to race at Estoril and Valencia, you can safely bet that Ducati will also roll out the new GP11 and have him give his opinion on the bike.

Source | carloschecatwitvid.com via motomatters.com

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Carlos Checa to replace Mika Kallio in Pramac for final two races?

By Toni M.

mika kallio After being the 2009 rookie of the year Mika Kallio has been having a tough follow-up year with Pramac Racing and currently lies last in the standings.

The Finn is still battling shoulder pain, has had trouble gelling with the 2010 Desmosedici and rumors say he’s also been having personal problems with his former manager and running constantly at the back of the field could see Kallio ousted from the team after next weekend’s last fly away round at Phillip Island.

Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa, who finished third in the 2010 WSBK championship has been asked to replace Kallio for the final two races at Estoril and Valencia, pending the results of a private two day test with Ducati GP10 that takes place tomorrow and Wednesday at the Mugello race track.

Source | bikeracing.it

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Pramac Racing to field only one rider in 2011?

By Toni M.

aleix espargaro

From the rumors that World Superbike’s Max Neukirchner would be heading to MotoGP and ride a Pramac Ducati with the latest item coming out of Sepang is that not only Neurkirchner will not be in MotoGP, but the Italian team run by Paolo Campinoti will be fielding only one rider next season.

The one rider should be MotoGP veteran Loris Capirossi - even if there hasn’t been any official announcement, but Capirossi’s manager, Carlo Pernat insisting that that the contract has been signed, which would leave out in the cold, rookie Aleix Espargaro and underperforming Mika Kallio, with both riders expected to be heading in Moto2, with Kallio linked to Ajo Motorsport and Espargaro to be fielded in all Spanish team with his brother Pol.

With the continuing rumors (publically confirmed by Francis Batta of Alstare Suzuki) that Suzuki will also field only one bike in MotoGP next season and that Interwetten Honda will be pulling out completely from the 2011 championship due to budget and sponsorship problems, could mean only 15 bikes on the grid next year, and the FIM will no longer be able to close their eyes and could legally pretend that Dorna return to the 18 rider minimum grid that is required or MotoGP lose their world championship status.

Source | motomatters.com

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Mika Kallio in Moto2 with Ajo Motorsport Team?

By Toni M.

mika kallio

That Mika Kallio is having a torrid second year in MotoGP is under the eyes of every racing fan. The Finnish rider who debuted in MotoGP in 2009 in the factory-supported Pramac Ducati satellite team and was the MotoGP Rookie of the Year, has struggled to find form on the more rider friendly GP10 this year.

Kallio with all probability will be dropped by team manager Paolo Campinoti at the end of the season to make room for Loris Capirossi, and rumors have it that Kallio could be picked up by the Moto2 Ajo Motorsport team which runs under the banner of Aeroport de Castello - Ajo.

Veteran rider Alex Debon who currently races for the Spanish team plans to retire at the season and the team is looking for an experienced rider, and Kallio could be on their shopping list to ride next year’s FTR M210 and pair him up with 125cc points leader Marc Marquez who could make the jump to Moto2 next year with very heavy Repsol sponsor backing.

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Pramac Racing Team First for Energy Savings

By Toni M.

pramac ducati team trucks

Mika Kallio’s seventh place at Jerez GP was an excellent result for the Pramac team, but the Green Energy Team true to their word to be the first team in Grand Prix paddock to be eco friendly, debuted their new energy saving trucks.

Each Pramac truck mounts 12 solar panels and another two on the pit canopy, made by Pramac’s Solar division, and the panels are capable of generating 2,8 kW of electric energy, with an estimated annual saving of 3,36 MWh of energy, but the most important data is that 2,3 tons of CO2 will be saved by the use of the solar panels that will not be released into atmosphere.

Both trucks attracted the attention of all the paddock guests as did the two wind turbines RevolutionAir designed for Pramac by Philippe Starck. Even if the wind was relatively weak and inconsistent at Jerez, the wind turbines generated almost enough electricity to keep the screens and to the equipment inside the garage going. The wind turbines are capable of generating 0.8 kW with an annual savings of 650 kg of CO2 emissions.

Continue reading: Pramac Racing Team First for Energy Savings

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Alpinestars Electronic Airbag on Mika Kallio (w/video)

By Toni M.

The other day Alpinestars, the Italian-based company unveiled their new innovation for motorcycle riding protection, the Electronic Airbag Technology.

MotoGP riders Ben Spies, Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa are currently using the AStars airbag system and you can check out from the video how they deploy on Pramac Ducati rider Mika Kallio.

The incorporated airbags are located in the shoulder, collarbone region and the system is said to add about 500 grams of weight compared Dainese’s D-Air weight of 700-750 grams.

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Aleix Espargaro to Pramac Ducati in 2010

By Toni M.

aleix espargaro

According to GP Week Aleix Espargaro will be riding with Pramac Ducati next season as their second rider, next to the already confirmed Mika Kallio.

Espargaro, older brother of Pol, who won yesterday’s 125cc race, was hotly tipped as getting the ride after his two races on the Ducati Desmosedici at the Indianapolis GP where he placed 13th and at Misano where he finished 11th, surprising many, including team owner Paolo Campinoti.

Campinoti infact was so pleasantly surprised that he tried to oust his regular rider, Nicolò Canepa, but the Italian fought against the move, getting Ducati management to defend him and obtaining the right to finish the season with the team.

With Espargaro getting the last ride available in MotoGP, officially closes the 2009 silly season, leaving both Gresini riders, Alex DeAngelis and Toni Elias out of MotoGP.

Source | gpweek

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Aleix Espargaro with Pramac Ducati for Two Races

By Toni M.

aleix espargaro Pramac Ducati will be fielding 250cc rider Aleix Espargaro in the next two MotoGP races at Indianapolis and San Marino-Misano.

This will be Esparagaro’s MotoGP debut and he’ll be substituting for Mika Kallio, while the Finn continues to sub for Casey Stoner in Marlboro Ducati.

Espargaro was chosen after Yuki Takahash was ruled out and John Hopkins who refused, as the ride was not tied to an eventual 2010 contract.

The Spanish rider was without a regular ride in any class, put in substitute appearances at Assen and Sachsenring for injured Balaz Nemeth in the Balatonring Team and is currently a Moto2 development rider.

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Mika Kallio Takes out Marco Melandri

By Toni M.

From yesterday’s MotoGP race at Brno, Mika Kallio who is substituting for Casey Stoner on the factory Ducati took out Marco Melandri on the penultimate lap. Livio Suppo called it a normal racing incident, but the Finn exaggerated his reaction with a couple of pushes and shoves and a verbal exchange with the Italian.

Kallio would later say: “Then came the crash with Melandri, who tried to pass me where it was impossible to, so that finally our lines crossed! I didn’t see him coming at all.”

Melandri saw the incident differently and said: “I was passed him and then suddenly I got hit from behind. I’m not sure how he can blame me when I was in front of him. Maybe when he watches the video he will change his mind.”

Does Kallio suffer of some sort of peripheral vision problem or was he just not looking?

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