We known for several weeks that Mika Kallio was suffering from continuing shoulder pain and that after Carlos Checa tested the GP10 at the Mugello it was just a question of time before Pramac Ducati would announce Kallio’s pull-out from the final two races of the season.
Infact Pramac Ducati has issued a press release today confirming that the Finnish rider will leave the team with immediate effect.
“It is since Japan’s race that the pain in my left shoulder, injured in Le Mans race, has become too intense.
I immediately talked to the Team who understood my situation and agreed that I would try to race in Malaysia and Australia and then decide to continue or not in the last two races,” said Kallio.
“Unfortunately, despite the good race today, the pain didn’t allowed me to perform in the best way, together with the Team, we decided to conclude our partnership today.
It has been a hard choice for me, but in this way I’ll be able to find the best physical condition and think about my future.
I would like to thank Paolo Campinoti that was very helpful in managing this situation.
I would like to also thank all the technical staff of the Pramac Racing Team with which I have found myself very well in this two year and I’ll always remember them with great affection.
”Team Principal Paolo Campinotti said: “I would never like to find myself in these situation, but when a rider ask you to not run because he cannot give 100% for the Team, you don’t any think to do more that accept his gesture of sincerity and go through that.
We had accepted his request and I would like, on behalf of the Pramac Racing Team and our partners, to thank Mika and wish him a wonderful future full of happiness and success.
In this two years, Mika has always demonstrated great honesty, giving always the best he can for our Team and colors.
Is also for this reason that we’ll always consider him one member of our family.
In this moment we are thinking about a substitute for the last two races of the year in Portugal and Spain, but just in the following days, after we sign our agreement, we’ll officially announce him.
”Despite Campinotti stating that they have yet to decide on Kallio’s substitute, Checa twittered that he’ll be at Estoril and Valencia so we can safely assime he’ll be on Kallio’s bike in two week’s time riding with number 57 or 77 on the fairing as Hiroshi Aoyama is already using number 7, Checa’s usual racing number, while Kallio is expected to undergo surgery on his shoulder and try to find a saddle in Moto2.