Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio slams Marco Melandri

Mika Kallio’s factory Ducati debut ended in disaster when he ended up in the gravel trap after a late tangle with Marco Melandri in a battle for sixth place.

Kallio and Melandri were both hoping to close in on the battle for sixth between American duo Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards when they clashed at the final corner on the penultimate lap.

Not surprisingly both blamed each other after they were sent tumbling through the gravel trap.

A short game of push and shove ensued before a quick verbal exchange as Kallio’s first race as Casey Stoner’s replacement ended in a cloud of dust.

The Finn certainly wasn’t amused and he said: “My start was typical of this year – not good but not bad – and I pretty much held my grid position into the first turn.

“After that the bike was similar to how it’s been all weekend – there is still something missing with the front feeling and even though I could stay with the second group I couldn’t pass anybody because I don’t have that front-end confidence you need to brake late or take a more risky line.

“The proof of that was when De Angelis had his problem and slowed down, I was able to pass him and improve my lap times by half a second to catch Nicky and Edwards.

“Then came the crash with Melandri, who tried to pass me where it was impossible to, so that finally our lines crossed.

“I was on the normal line and that’s why I was carrying so much more corner speed than him.

“He’d come underneath fast but he had to slow down in the middle of the corner to make it through. The next thing we touched and I was down.”

Melandri saw the incident differently and he said: “I was passed him and then suddenly I got hit from behind.

“I’m not sure how he can blame me when I was in front of him. Maybe when he watches the video he will change his mind.”