#AragonGP MotoGP J.3: Mika Kallio has done what it takes to become a starter at KTM

Fifth at the end of FP3, twelfth at the end of qualifying and finally eleventh in the race, it's nothing to say that Mika Kallio confirmed all the good things that KTM thinks of him this weekend in Aragon. Arriving as a reinforcement for the official team, but also as an evaluation guide for the starting drivers, the 34-year-old Finn fulfilled his role perfectly. Pol Espargaró is thus confirmed as the leader and Bradley Smith as the weak link…

Mika Kallio finished his Grand Prix in Aragon eleventh, 17 seconds behind the winner, 3.1 seconds behind his teammate Pol Espargaró in tenth and he was ahead of the other holder from Mattighofen Bradley Smith of 19.104 seconds. All this while Aragon was only his third competition of the year at this level.

Not bad, and even very good for the Finn who further opens the debate on the casting of the official drivers of the orange team: “ this eleventh position is a satisfaction » comments the person concerned. “ I was hoping for a top 10, but Pol had a better finish than me. He passed me five laps from the finish and I couldn't follow him. His rhythm was better. But it was a very good race ».

« During the first ten laps, I could follow the leading group. I was only five seconds behind the best. It was very good. Then my rear tire deteriorated and I lost grip. This is what we need to work on, find longevity in this area. This will be the next step to take. The guys did a really good job. It was very good ».

#AragonGP MotoGP Race ranking compiled by our friends at crash.net:

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 42m 6.816s

2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 42m 7.695s

3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17) 42m 8.844s

4. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 42m 12.072s

5. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 42m 12.698s

6. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 42m 13.778s

7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 42m 14.271s

8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 42m 14.726s

9. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 42m 19.818s

10. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 20.891s

11. Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 24.008s

12. Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 42m 27.448s

13. Jack Miller AUS EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 30.702s

14. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 42m 32.339s

15. Tito Rabat ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 32.898s

16. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 42m 37.118s

17. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 42m 38.690s

18. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia (GP16) 42m 38.764s

19. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 43.112s

20. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) 42m 44.658s

21. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 42m 54.415s

22. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 42m 54.463s

Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) DNF

Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) DNF

Provisional ranking of the World Championship (Top 20):

1. Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 224 points
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 208
3. Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 196
4. Dani PEDROSA-Honda 170
5. Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 168
6. Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 117
7. Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 106
8. Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 95
9. Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 92
10. Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 84
11. Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 70
12. Jack MILLER-Honda 56
13. Scott REDDING-Ducati 56
14. Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia 53
15. Loris BAZ-Ducati 39
16. Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 37
17. Pol ESPARGARO-KTM 37
18. Karel ABRAHAM-Ducati 28
19. Tito RABAT-Honda 28
20. Alex RINS-Suzuki 27