REPORT: Dovi wins stunning Marquez duel!
UPDATE (Monday): is reporting that Mika Kallio could now be in contention for Bradley Smith's KTM race seat in 2018.
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer: "We appreciate Bradley very much. He was the first MotoGP rider to believe in our project. We have not forgotten that. But we wish for an increase from him. We will decide the rider line-up for 2018 up to the overseas races in October."
Mika Kallio does not view his current ro﷽le as KTM MotoGP test rider as a step towards retirement.
On the contrary, the Finn inte♌nds to use it as a springboard back into a full-time premier-class ride.
Kallio 💃;upheld KTM honours with an excelle𒊎nt tenth place as a wild-card in their home Austrian Grand Prix.
That is just one p𒀰osition from the RC16's best-yet result, by regular rider Pol Espargaro in the wet-dry Brno race. But the 19.766s margin between Kallio and victory was the smallest yet, despite Kallio not testing at the Red Bull Ring since last July and it being only his third GP since 2015𒁏.
"I haven't raced so much recently, so if I'm racing more often I could be even closer," he said🍌. "However, tod༺ay was one of the best races I've done in MotoGP and the closest I've ever been to the winner in MotoGP."
Asked about his future plans, the 34-year-old replied: "Already, almost two years ago when I came to KTM for this project, I s꧒aid testing is something that I like to do, but also this is the way that maybe I can come back to MotoGP.
"Definitely that was on my plan; that one day I would like to ꧙be a race rider in MotoGP again. That is still my goal and of course this result will help a lot. But I don't know if it's enough or not. Let's see what happens."
Kallio was a MotoGP rider in 2009 and 2010 on satellite Ducati machinery, before spending five seasons in Moto2. He won four race🎃s in the 600cc class and was 2014 title runner-up behind Marc VDS team-mate Tito Raba꧟t.
VDS is one of the few teams known to need a new MotoGP rider for 2018, following Jack Miller's switch&nꦜbsp;to Pramac.
"I've spoken with a few teams, but as we know there is not so many places available any more," Kallio said of 2018. "VDS have one place. I've spoken to them, but at the moment I've not had aꦫ clear൩ answer about what they will do. For sure there are many other riders also knocking on their door.
"So I need to wait and definitely see what KTM would like to do. What is their plan for me for the future. My first prior🌊ity is still to stay here, if I can find a place to ride. I'd really🔯 like to stay with KTM. I like these people and have a long history with them. So absolutely it would be nice to stay."
Would you consider racing in Moto2 for KTM?
"No. We never ever talk about Moto2 with KTM. I think they have a lot 📖of good riders and a plan for them. At the moment for me it would be just the M🐲otoGP class."
Espargaro was forced out of the Austrian race by an early technical problem, while team-mate Bradley Smith was 'surprised and shocked' by a lack of pace, finishing&nb𓆏sp;18th after a strong warm-u꧃p.
MotoGP Editor
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit st▨ory and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
