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A top ten place in Malaysia at the weekend allows Mika Kallio to be named the MotoGP Rookie of the Year, ahead of Pramac
colleague Niccolò Canepa.
At 26 points ahead of the Italian in the overall rankings, the Finn is unable
to be caught going into the last event of the year in Valencia. Kallio has performed extremely well in his debut year.
Included in the top ten placements was the 26 year-old’s best result in San Marino, a seventh place spot when
filling in for Casey Stoner, and Kallio was challenging for sixth on his satellite Pramac engine at Assen when a last lap
smash ended his race.
Kallio is not happy with rest and is aiming to finish on a high in Valencia.
“I
am disappointed with how the race went today,” states Kallio about Sepang. “On the dry we could have had a much
better result but with these conditions I didn't have much confidence with the rear of the bike to accelerate as I wanted.
Instead, in braking, the bike was really competitive. In Valencia I want to ride a much better race.”
Espargaró,
expanded his experience of the premier class in the absence of Canepa, prior to his full time agreement next year.
“In the first five laps I couldn't believe how slow I was going but I preferred to not take any risks in order
to understand the reaction of the bike in these conditions,” he says of the wet conditions. “From the sixth lap
I aimed for the group where there was Colin Edwards, Alex de Angelis, Mika Kallio and Loris Capirossi, and lap by lap I reached
them and overtook the first two.”
“It was a pity I didn't start well otherwise I could have fought
for a better position. I want to thank the Pramac Racing Team for this weekend of work which allowed me to further prepare
for next season.”
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