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06.09.2007 |
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Mika Kallio re-signs with Red Bull KTM
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Mika Kallio has re-signed with the Red Bull
KTM Team for the 2008 season, with an option for
the following year. The signing took place after
the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix
in Misano last weekend. |
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The talented 24-year-old Finn finalised the new contract
with KTM Technical Director Harald Bartol, saying he
believed that he could realise his dream of winning the
world championship title with the Austrian manufacturer.
"My dream is to win the world championship, and I
believe with KTM, this dream can come true," Mika said.
"The team started their 250 cc project only two years
ago. They started winning races last year and now we are
riding with good chances of race wins and podium
finishes at almost every venue. This shows the
commitment and determination of every team member. The
package that we now have is very good and everybody is
working hard to improve it even further. I have no doubt
that we will be again competitive in 2008 and that KTM
is going to be a serious world championship title
contender."
Kallio also praised the cooperation with Bartol, which
he said has been very positive since they first met in
1993. "Since then, it has always been very special and
inspiring to work with him and his team. He has proven
on numerous occasions that he is simply the best as far
as two-stroke technology goes. Everybody saw how he
first turned Yamaha, then Derbi into winning machines,
and how fast the KTM engine was right from its first
year in the world championship. He works day and night
to improve our bikes and his passion for this sport is
second to none."
Kallio said he viewed the fact that the KTM team and
racing structure was small compared to others as "a big
advantage". "With a bigger company or team structure you
sometimes have to be very patient and wait for technical
improvements. But with Red Bull KTM, I simply have to
talk to Harald and he can take the appropriate decisions
and go ahead with new parts and alterations straight
away. We find problems, and we fix them without losing
any time. The team feels like a well organised family
enterprise. It's just fantastic!"
Harald Bartol was also delighted with Kallio's decision
to stay aboard. "He is a great guy, uncomplicated and
easy to deal with - you couldn't wish for a nicer person
in a team," he said. "And of course, he is a great
talent. He is fast by nature and can pretty much ride
anything with two wheels and an engine."
"Mika is not only fast and intelligent when it comes to
the race, he also has a deep and thorough technical
understanding of what's going on underneath. He's got a
good feeling for the set-up and for all technical
changes to the bike, and he is able to give the
engineers all the right input."
Bartol described the union as "a dream partnership for
KTM, not only in terms of the further development of the
bike, but also of podium finishes and race wins". "Mika
has the talent, the skills and the experience to win the
World Championship," the Technical Director concluded.
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Mika Kallio re-signs with Red Bull KTM
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“Mika has the talent, the skills and the
experience to win the World Championship,”
Bartol said. |
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