Mika Kallio was sent to the front by KTM after the Austrians decided, against all odds, that it was no longer necessary to save Private Zarco. An opportunity but also a poisoned gift for the Finn who knows that his fate in 2020 will depend on his performances until the end of this season. And at 36 years old, the Mattighofen test pilot since the start of the adventure of the RC16, wants to return to the big leagues.
The carrot is orange, like a KTM official, and she is waved in front of the nose of Mika Kallio who intends to catch him. But before that, he must show that he has the potato, and after two Grands Prix, that ofAragon And the one of Thailand, he has nothing to show off: “ we need to finish the season first and get that spot for 2020 » comments the man who could do a Grand Prix at home next year, in Finland. " I think we have to show something different from what we did in the last races. »
« I have to finish the race and be in the best positions » insists the Viking. However, this will not be simple, because the KTM is not an easy bike. He thus returns to his fall to Buriram : “ we saw in the data what happened, and it wasn't very clear why I lost the front. At turn 8, the last part of the braking, I felt something like a small bump on the track and then suddenly I lost the front a little and that's it. »
He finishes : " I feel sorry for KTM, because obviously we don't want to end the weekend like that. It's racing, of course, you can always fall. Now we just have to forget about that and try to concentrate for the next meetings », meetings where the spearhead Pol Espargaro will gradually regain a form damaged by a fractured and operated left wrist.
