Kallio compares MotoGP and 250cc riding

One of two newcomers to the MotoGP class to have come up from 250cc, Mika Kallio is the first rider to do so with the tricky Ducati Desmosedici. The nature of the machine makes it one of the most contrasting bikes to the two-stroke KTM to which he has become accustomed, although the Finn has made a promising start with his new ride in preseason testing.

The quarter-litre category´s `class of 2007´ (Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Alex de Angelis) had expressed their surprise with the electronic systems used in the premier class last year, with Dovizioso in particular saying that he felt more comfortable and confident on the bigger 800cc Honda than with the 250cc version. Kallio shares his opinion to an extent, based on his experiences in Valencia and Jerez.

`Perhaps it is a little easier to ride this bike,´ the Finn told motogp.com this week. `It´s a difficult one to judge. On one hand the 250cc machine is easier because there´s less power, and on the other you have more power in MotoGP but with help from the electronics.

`The bikes are completely different; the power certainly makes things harder, but let´s say that in terms of general riding the 250cc is more difficult. You can´t make a mistake, because you can´t use the power to fix the problem. As an example; in MotoGP you can brake a little too late, go two metres wide, but still fix the problem.´

Whether he feels more at ease with the bike or not, there is still plenty of adaptation for the former 125cc World Championship runner-up to make. Two positive tests on Spanish soil have done much to help Kallio´s progress, although there were some difficulties along the way.

`For me everything is going quite well with my new team and new bike. Everything felt quite different to the 250cc in Valencia, but already my first lap times were good,´

`Then we continued testing in Jerez and felt on the first day that it was more difficult. We got used to it again and the second day was really good. We made adjustments to make the bike better for my riding style and feeling.´

Whilst Kallio is yet to engage in deep discussion with the Alice Team over whether he will be able to indulge his hobby of ice racing over the winter break, the Finn has assured that he will definitely be doing some practices in the discipline. Besides that, his winter training has been planned to keep him race fit and help him gain additional power for the task at hand.