Kallio hosts Pramac Racing team in Finland

In a team bonding exercise initiated by MotoGP rookie Mika Kallio, the Finnish rider and his Pramac Racing crew have been getting to know one another over the past four days. Kallio invited his crew to spend the past four days in his winter retreat of Levi to take part in some of his favourite off-season activities.

Snowmobile driving and an ice-track test drive with Finnish rally driver Harri Rovanpera were the more regular of the pastimes introduced to the Italian outfit by Kallio, but the team´s willingness to brave temperatures of up to -36° C left even the former 250cc star impressed.

`I was really surprised that all the guys made it to follow us in all the activities planned; especially diving and swimming in the frozen lake! I never thought that they would have done it,´ said Kallio of the team´s participation in the sauna-cold contrast exercise traditional to his homeland. `This is the team spirit I like! I met some special people and I am sure we will get along very well.´

Pramac Racing Team Technical Director Fabiano Sterlacchini was taken aback by his new rider´s generosity, a novelty for even the experienced paddock figure.

`When we first received the invitation from Mika in November we were totally surprised. I have been in the bike racing world for many years and I had never heard of a rider who invited his new crew to his house during pre season. It was very kind of him and we of course accepted. We were really excited to have this marvellous experience,´ commented the Italian.

`In the name of the Pramac Racing Team I want to thank Mika and his staff for this unforgettable experience.´