BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Seasoned rider Mika Kallio will get the chance to start the 2016 Moto2 World Championship alongside Julian Simon, QMMF Racing Team President Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah said yesterday.
Kallio, a couple of weeks ago replaced Australian rider Anthony West who struggled for form in half of the races in the 2015 season.
“Kallio is an established name in Moto2 world. He has done extremely well over the years and we feel good that he is riding for us,” Al Attiyah said.
The 32-year-old debuted in the 125cc World Championship with Finnish rookie team Ajo Motorsport in 2001 and was named the “Rookie of the Year” in 2002.
After moving to Red Bull KTM during the 2003 season, he finished runner-up in the class in 2005 and 2006.
The Finn, who was second in the 125cc world championship twice in his career, finished fourth in the 2013 season and second in 2014.
“We saw Anthony wasn’t able to improve himself this season and we decided to bring in somebody who has edge over other riders,” the QMMF Racing Team President said.
“It’s a done deal. These two riders will feature in our Moto2 campaign next year,” Al Attiyah told The Peninsula.
“Julian has done extremely well this season and we feel Kallio will add muscle to our campaign for the rest of the season,” Al Attiyah said. “This will be a good move for us, we feel. These two, I hope, will compliment each other well,” Al Attiyah said.
Kallio sounded delighted when he was approached by QMMF. “First of all, I want to thank QMMF and the entire QMMF Racing Team for the chance to try the Speed Up bike and to compete for them from now on until the end of the season,” Kallio said at Aragon last week.
“I also want to thank my former team Italtrans for finding a solution to separate in a good way. The situation is very positive now and I was really happy to jump on this bike. “To be invited by QMMF Racing to step in was a golden opportunity that came just at the right time for me.
“Now, after doing the first laps on the Speed Up, I can see that the bike is really, really different to the Kalex that I rode over the last four years. It’s a big change for me, but things took a turn to the better almost immediately,” Kallio added.
Kallio’s senior team-mate Simon managed to finish in 5th spot at the San Marino Grand Prix earlier in September.
“Simon has improved right throughout the season,” Al Attiyah said.
“We are impressed with his commitment,” he added.
At the San Marino Grand Prix, Simon celebrated his best result since joining QMMF Racing Team for this season.
The 28-year-old Spaniard started well and held 10th, ninth and eighth place on the opening laps of the race and was rewarded with sixth position when Dominique Aegerter and Alex Rins crashed out at the end of lap six, fighting for the lead.
Simon won another position with two laps to go, when he overtook German rider Jonas Folger.
Only eventual race winner Johann Zarco, reigning champion Tito Rabat, Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami and local hero Simone Corsi finished ahead of Simon.
“Now I look forward to my home race at Aragon next week where we will try to build on our good result at the Misano Grand Prix last Sunday,” Simon said.
THE PENINSULA
