All posts tagged mika kallio
Aleix Espargaro with Pramac Ducati for Two Races
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.
Mika Kallio Takes out Marco Melandri
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?
Casey Stoner Rumors Confirmed
The rumors regarding Casey Stoner pulling out of Brno has been confirmed by Italian website Corriere dello Sport that has Ducati’s team manager Livio Suppo stating that “Stoner was very sorry and that this decision was very painful, but necessary to perserve his rider’s health.”
A further update from Gpone states that Livio Suppo has confirmed to a Spanish television station that Stoner will miss the Brno, Indianapolis and Misano rounds.
Always according to Gpone, the Aussie rider will be replaced for at least the next two races by Pramac Ducati rookie rider Mika Kallio and that Kallio will be substituted by WSBK rider Michel Fabrizio who is presently third in that championship series.
Fabrizio was notified this morning by Ducati Corse and has accepted the challenge even if he has never ridden the Ducati GP9 and will be at Brno on Friday with Xerox Ducati’s team manager Davide Tardozzi’s blessings.
Pramac Racing Laguna Seca Livery
Pramac Racing has a new one off livery for this weekend’s Laguna Seca race, their title sponsor is Powermate, a leading consumer brand in the USA whose products include portable generators, pressure washers, air compressor and air tools.
Paolo Campinoti - Pramac Racing Team Principal
“There couldn’t be any better occasion to place Powermate brand on the Pramac Racing bikes. We have found an important agreement for this one event partnership and we are really happy about it. I think that one event partnership can be a really good investment for many companies that aren’t present on all of the nations where the MotoGP world championship competes. The prestigious brand, which is Powermate, is present in the United States of America from more than forty years and it is leader of the production and selling of portable generators. Our bike will have the new colors since Friday’s first free practice and we confide that our only rider here due to Mika Kallio’s injury, Niccolò Canepa, will be able to obtain a good result.”
Source | pramacracing
Mika Kallio to miss Laguna Seca
Mika Kallio will miss this weekend’s U.S. GP at Laguna Seca following a serious finger injury he suffered after crashing during the final lap at Assen.
The Finnish rider elected not to ride the spectacular American circuit in these conditions:
“I was so excited to race in Laguna Seca, but I guess destiny wanted to be this way and I will have to renounce. It’s a pity. We have taken this decision together with Pramac Racing Managers and I think this is probably the best solution. Laguna would have been a new circuit to learn for me and with precarious physical conditions we thought it would have been too risky. I will look after myself in the best way possible to be in good form at the Sachsenring, which is by the way one of my favorites circuits of the world championship. I wish all the best to Niccolò who will have to do well for the Pramac Team this weekend.”
Source | pramac racing
Kallio loses part of finger, in doubt for Laguna Seca
Mika Kallio, rookie rider for Pramac Racing may be in doubt for the upcoming Laguna Seca race this weekend.
Kallio who crashed out just a few corners from the finish line battling for 6th place at the Assen TT, badly injured his left ring finger when his hand when his hand got caught under his sliding Ducati D16.
According to the Clinica Mobile website, Kallio has lost half of his finger.
Catalunya Post Race Testing Results
With Monday post race testing slashed to a minimum as a cost saving measure, most riders were on hand for some vital testing. The test is the first since the start of season and will be followed by a second one after the race in Brno.
Yesterday’s test at the Catalunya circuit saw Honda HRC rider Andrea Dovizioso take the top of the chart with a best time of 1.42.230. Dovizioso was testing a new and modified chassis that helped the Italian rider improve his feeling in corner entry, while team mate Dani Pedrosa returned home to rest and try to recover from his cracked femur.
Yuki Takahashi also sat out Monday’s test after breaking a finger during the first lap of the race, as did Yamaha Tech 3 team who decided not to join the test.
Mugello Grid Girl Casting
The choosing of the umbrella girls for the Italian GP at Mugello has become big promo business and sponsors play it to the hilt.
Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo got his two when he inaugurated the new Fiat Open Lounge in Milan. Lorenzo met up with Luisa Mearns and Stefania Cicirello who were the two winners of Radio DeeJay and Fiat Automobile SpA contest for grid girls for this weekend’s Gran Prix.
Randy DePuniet and LCR Honda’s owner Lucio Cecchinello are choosing their grid girls in a casting that’s going to take place tonight in a Playboy event at the Disco Central Park in Florence. Playboy Playmates and Bunnies are going show up for the party.
Niccolò Canepa and Mika Kallio of Pramac racing will also be choosing their Sunday’s brolly girls tonight in another Florence disco, the Meccanò.
So ladies if your in town and don’t have other plans for tonight, you know where to go. Hey you never know what opportunities could arise, you may even get noticed by the Italian PM and offered a job in politics.
Riders Remember Earthquake Victims
Riders Niccolò Canepa and Mika Kallio have stickers on their Pramac D16 bikes in memory of the people of Abruzzo, Italy who lost their lives in Monday’s devasting earthquake.
Valentino Rossi will also ride at Qatar with a sticker in support of the people of Abruzzo:
“This weekend I have a special sticker on my bike, which says ‘Forza Abruzzo’. It’s a message from us for the people of Abruzzo. It’s not so far from my home in Tavullia and I want them to know that we are with them at such a terrible time.”
Source | gpone
MotoGP test Valencia: Kawasaki and Alice Team reviews
The Ducati Marlboro MotoGP team went for testing at Valencia, as did the two newcomers to the Ducati Alice team, getting out for their first experiences. Mika Kallio was impressed by the power of the GP9 and set a good first day result at 15th position with the fastest laptime of 1.34′793.
Niccolo Canepa said: “I already knew the Ducati Desmosedici GP8 but it is the first time that I’ve concentrated on the set up of the bike. In the last season tests we mainly worked on the tyres and we didn’t have much time to modify the bike. For this motive I mainly focused on understanding the bike’s reaction at each modification and I am learning a lot. We have modified the bike many times and we will still have a lot of work to do.” Niccolo’s best laptime was 1.34′995, finishing 17th.
Marco Melandri made his debut with his Kawasaki at Valencia, riding the Ninja ZX-RR with Bridgestone tyres and finishing the day 10th. Team mate John Hopkins said: “The front tyre we were allocated this morning feels identical to the one that Valentino and Casey have been using all year, but we’ve not been able to run on our bike before. Today we’ve had the chance to make some changes to the overall set-up of the bike, and it looks like we’ve made some real progress. I’ve now got a much better feeling from the front than I’ve had for some time, and that’s given me back the confidence to push harder in the corners.”
Source | Alice team and Kawasaki
MotoGP 2009: Alice Team riders line-up
After so many rumours about Niccolo Canepa riding next year in World Superbike or MotoGP, the Ducati Alice Team has announced the riders line up for 2009 in MotoGP with the Italian Canepa and Mika Kallio.
Niccolo began his career at young age riding a Ducati in the FIM Superstock 600 Cup, and won the Superstock 1000 Cup with the Ducati 1098. He was involved in developing the 1098R Superbike and became the Ducati Bridgestone test rider on the Desmosedici GP08. His experiences and good performances have opened 2009 MotoGP doors to him.
Mika Kallio, is third at this moment in the 250 World Championship and first of the KTM riders. It’s his second year in the 250 Class and he claimed two victories and a 7th position last year. This year Mika has taken three victories and is currently 3rd in the championship.
Championship News
In recent championship news, Canepa again performed the fastest laptime during the MotoGP two-day tyre test session on the Indiapolis track with his Ducati. Speculations for next continue, with Mika Kallio, leading in the 250 MotoGP, tipped to move to the Ducati satellite Team d’Antin for 2009.
As reported on MotoGPMatters, in an attempt to cease rumours about Marco Melandri, Ducati boss Livio Suppo has told the Italy’s sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, that Melandri will stay and race for Ducati at the German GP and US GP at Laguna Seca.
Moto73 has reported that Andrea Dovizioso could enter the Repsol Honda Team in place of Nicky Hayden. The Italian SBK Team Guandalini is preparing for the next race with Smrz racing at his home track in Brno. Given his latest performances, it could be the moment when he proves he is on top again.
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