Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio thrilled with seventh

Mika Kallio’s first day as a factory Ducati rider ended in morale-boosting fashion as the Finn beat Nicky Hayden on his way to setting the seventh quickest time in Brno.
Replacing Aussie Casey Stoner for at least the next three races, Kallio clocked a best time of 1.58.302 to finish over half-a-second quicker than American Hayden.
Kallio, who has been promoted from the Pramac Ducati team to replace Stoner, was less than two-tenths away from British GP winner Andrea Dovizioso in fifth place and he said: “It has been a really exciting day for me. We started out with my setting from Donington on one bike and something similar to what Casey ran here last year on the other, with a few changes to suit my preferences. Both settings had different strengths but the same weakness, which was a lack of rear grip on the left side. It was the same problem with both the softer and harder tyre so we’re a little confused about what is causing it at the moment, but we’ll sit down this evening and work out a plan for tomorrow. They tell me the bike is virtually the same as my satellite machine but I can’t help but feel it has a little extra! Usually I struggle a little on the first day because even though I know the circuits I am riding them all for the first time on a MotoGP bike this year so to finish seventh today, with such a small gap to third place, is really positive.”