Kallio confirms KTM MotoGP™ race debut in Valencia

Rumours have been swirling around the paddock about a potential KTM wildcard in Valencia…

At the private MotoGP™ test in Austria the KTM RC16 ran alongside its future World Championship competition for the first time. Mika Kallio and Thomas Luthi took to the track and posted competitive laps times, many impressed with the power of the orange machine.

“I think everyone can be really satisfied that we’re here with the others. In the end I think the lap times were on a good level, quite good,” said Kallio who has been leading development on the RC16. “We tried to follow the others and see how the bike is behaving and where we are losing compared to them.”

“Around two seconds behind the fastest guys, at the moment it’s quite good. We still have time to work before we come to the Valencia race,” Kallio confirming the rumours about KTM’s race debut. KTM are not the first to wildcard before their full-time return, Suzuki also used the Valencia GP in 2014 as chance to compare themselves to the established order.