Mika Kallio targets consistent top six challenge

Finnish rider Mika Kallio has set himself the target of becoming a regular top six contender in the 2010 MotoGP world championship.

The Pramac Ducati rider ended 15th overall in his rookie campaign last year and he finished in the top ten in over 50 per cent of the races.

But a top six finish proved hard to come by on a regular basis and he was in the top six only once in Misano while deputising for 2007 world champion Casey Stoner in Ducati’s official factory team.

Kallio told MCN establishing himself as a top six rider was a key goal for 2010.

“Sometimes when things were okay last year I was able to fight in the second group from fifth to eighth, so the first target is to try and be around this position at every race and the main goal is that I try and find solutions to catch the front guys.

“Last year they were about between one and 1.5s faster a lap than me and I need to make that gap smaller.

“That’s my main goal and then see where that takes us, “said Kallio.