When you carry out tests to fine-tune your motorcycles, it is good to concentrate on your subject by scrupulously following your work plan before returning to your stand and analyzing the data thus collected. But to know exactly where you stand, it's sometimes good to simply follow the competition, which is also an excellent indicator. Even, in the case of a Rock having taken, with his KTM, the wake of Marc Marquez's Honda, a revelation...
Mika Kallio was present during the three days of testing at Sepang, the track which marked the start of MotoGP in 2018. The one who would have liked to be a starter but who will have to settle for six Grands Prix as a guest on the RC16 did not show up so enthusiastic about Mattighofen's latest opus. A doubt fueled by two falls, while he had only fallen on three occasions throughout last year...
That being said, the Finn had the opportunity to take the wheel of the six-time title winner Marc Márquez who was filing the Malaysian asphalt with his Honda… “ sometimes it's good to follow someone » recalls the teammate of Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith. " We're not looking to do that, but sometimes you go to the track and you meet someone. And I found Marc Márquez ».
« I used this opportunity to study his riding, see how his bike behaved, and realize where I was losing and where I could gain from him. And I must say that these tours were very important in my understanding of our situation. I understood perfectly where the weak points of our bike were. It seemed to become crystal clear but I won't tell you what it is! »
Rock will be on the Thailand trip but as an informed spectator… “ I'm not planning to make any trips there. I will be there in case one of the starting drivers gets injured and somewhere on the side of the track to observe and give my comments to help the team ". The Buriram tests will begin on February 16.
