Mika Kallio has confirmed that he will give the new KTM MotoGP machine its race debut as a wild-card in the Valencia season finale.
Kallio - a former 125, 250, MotoGP and Moto2 racer - stepped back from competition to become KTM's official test rider ahead of its entry in the 2017 world championship, when Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro will race the orange machines.
It has long been known that KTM would take part in the Valencia round, just as Suzuki did prior to its 2015 return, with paddock sources naming Kallio as the rider during the German Grand Prix weekend.
The Finn confirmed the deal after testing alongside current MotoGP riders in Austria on Tuesday, when he was 16th quickest and 2.292s from the top.
“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," Kallio said.
“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," Kallio said.
"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."
Thomas Luthi was 18th and last on the other RC16, but still within 2.7s of Andrea Dovizioso and 1.6s from the top non-Ducati rider, Suzuki's Maverick Vinales.
Check out the Video from MCN on the KTM Roll out bellow:
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