Kallio signs deal with Pramac Ducati
Added on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Kallio signs deal with Pramac Ducati
Mika Kallio has sealed his future in 2010 after signing a one-year contract with the Pramac Ducati team.
The Finnish rider has signed a new one-year contract with the Ducati satellite team that will see him remain with the team for the 2010 MotoGP championship.
Kallio, in his rookie season in MotoGP, has caught the eye with some strong performances, with Ducati selecting him to ride for the factory team in the recent absence of Casey Stoner through illness.
“Now that we have agreed for next season we can exclusively concentrate to do our job on track,” said Kallio. “I am very happy to be able to continue with the Pramac Racing Team, Paolo Campinoti and Ducati to give continuity to this project.
“This season is going in a positive direction with high and low points, but considering that it is my rookie season it’s normal. We’re confident of being able to improve together next year.”
Team boss Paolo Campinoti believes Kallio will get stronger and stronger next year.
“We are very happy to reach agreement with Mika and continue to work together in the next season,” he said.
“This year, in his MotoGP debut, he has obtained positive performances and we believe we can improve next year. We believe in his riding abilities and we are proud to be able to continue this project together.”
The deal means that Pramac, one of the few teams left who are yet to finalise their line-up, need to confirm to their second rider, with doubts surrounding the future of Niccolo Canepa.
Alex Espargaro, who stood in for Kallio at the previous two rounds, impressed Pramac bosses, leading to reports that the team may ditch Canepa this weekend at Estoril. The team eventually stood by the Italian but Campinoti claims that the youngster has yet to prove that he is worth a 2010 contract.
“Niccolo still has to demonstrate his potential,” he added. “He has four races left to do it and we will support him in the best way possible to put him in the ideal conditions to race.”
