MotoGP: Kallio set for fourth Valencia wildcard

KTM test rider Mika Kallio will have a fourth wildcard in MotoGP come the final round of the season at Valencia, after successfully coming home in the points for the second time in two appearances this weekend at the Motorland Aragon circuit.

The news came after the squad completed another positive test with Kallio and their regular MotoGP riders at the track this week, with project technical boss Sebastian Risse upbeat after the two-day outing for the squad.

“In total we had a really positive test here. Two long days with many laps trying many configurations on the one hand to finish the season in a good way, and on the other to prepare for next year for which we need to take some important decisions and this was the test at which to do that.

“We’re happy about that and we’ve found some steps that we can already use over these remaining four Grands Prix this year as well as to prove these settings on other tracks as although the conditions were good here, every track is different so we will see how it transfers. At the moment we are happy and very positive with this test: now we move on to the overseas races.”

Brit Bradley Smith was equally positive after the test, admitting to MCN that it was a busy two days with a lot of parts to be tested on the RC16 machine ahead of MotoGP’s three-week Asian trip.

“Here at Aragon we had a very busy test with many things to get through for the remaining races and the future of the bike into 2018. We focussed on turning and to get the best from a new tyre and with that we’ve made some positive steps. Two days doing more laps was hugely valuable and I feel that we’ve made a step in the right direction here so let’s see what we can do when we go to these last four races where we know three of the circuits.”