It was necessary for an ambitious and fast Mika Kallio to reveal himself during perfectly honored Grand Prix invitations to emerge from his lethargy a Bradley Smith anonymous during a large part of this 2017 MotoGP season. A campaign which is the first for a KTM factory which had recruited very early last year the man who finished sixth in the premier category World Championship in 2015, on a Yamaha Tech3. Since then he has been disappointing. But here he is again on a war footing. By what miracle?
At KTM and the Englishman, we don't dwell too much on this absence and this return. But there is still one element that made things happen: Mika Kallio. Who would have settled well in the position of holder of the Briton, who was finally confirmed in his functions. Since then, he has been useful to the cause of Mattighofen again.
His overseas campaign can be considered reassuring after two out of three deadlines have been completed. In Japan, he missed the points but qualified seventh and in Australia, he started ninth to take the top 10. He is no longer light years away from Pol Espargaro and, this weekend, in Malaysia, he can help KTM to gain the upper hand in the championship over Aprilia which will be without its spearhead Aleix Espargaro, hurt.
On his situation, Bradley Smith explains soberly: “ We knew from looking at Mika and Pol's results that the KTM was working well, I just needed to ride the same bike with the same settings and calmly adapt everything to my advantage. During the tests in Aragon, I felt the progress and we accomplished two superb days of work during which I felt like myself again ».
Seventh both in qualifying and in the race in 2013, fifth in 2014, fourth in 2015, the Sepang track is appreciated by the Englishman who would definitely be reassured this weekend about his return to form.
