As their 3 week break comes to an end, the MotoGP paddock is gearing up for this weekends return to action, for Round 10 of the Championship, at Brno, in the Czech Republic. And hoping that the return brings a change of fortune is the Pramac Ducati Racing Team. Their season so far has been a mix of highs and lows, mainly with Mika Kallio bringing the highs, with a team best performance of 7th, and Aleix Espargarò bringing the lows, with many retirements.
Reflecting back on the previous grand prix, Mika Kallio said “The US Grand Prix was very important for me for two reasons, first of all, I regained a place in the top ten, and second because I realized that I have acquired a good feeling with the bike and that will allow me to be competitive in all the races in the second part of the season. There are nine more races until the end of the Championship, I’ll give my best to score a good result in all of them to repay the trust that the team has always placed in me, despite negative results.”
Looking forward to this weekend, Mika is hoping previous performances are a sign of things to come “I consider Brno one of the most technical circuits on the calender, I really like this track as I have had good results in the past. I have had three consecutive podiums, two second places in the 125cc in 2005 and 2006 and a third place in 2007 in my rookie season in 250cc . Last year I was here for Ducati as Casey Stoner’s substitute, I started from the tenth place on the grid, but with two laps to go, while I was eighth, I was involved in an accident and I went off the track.”
Aleix Espargarò has used the break to re-focus, and is hoping to make a fresh start on his return. “The summer break we had, helped me to take off a bit of disappointing feeling for the last three Grands Prix in which, also for the bad luck I had, I could not see the checkered flag. I hope that Sunday I’ll already return to gain an important position, I need it for my Team but also for myself as I have always fought and believed in me. I never had a particular affection for Brno’s track, I was able to run here only four times in the past, one in 125cc and three in 250cc, gaining a tenth place as best result in 2008 in the 250cc category. It ‘s time to regain what I have lost in recent races. My season will restart from here. ”
