MotoGP: Mika Kalio Out at Pramac Ducati, Carlos Checa to Team With Aleix Espargaro For Final 2 Stops

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The Pramac/KerSelf/Lifter Ducati Green Energy Team displays Aleix Espargaro's Desmosedici GP9 SAT MotoGP mount outside their garages at the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP round on August 27. Mika Kalio's machines are being prepared in the background. The team has split with Kalio and plans are to bring in Carlos Checa, who just finished up his World Superbike season, and have him ride the remaining rounds at Portugal and Valencia as a team mate to Espargaro.

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Pramac Racing has been involved in the top-tier level of MotoGP racing since the 2002 season, and this year radically changed their look to go along with the 'green' concept in terms of the whole global warming and recycling efforts around the world. The Green Energy Team was transformed into a green and white paint scheme to highlight the need to 'go green' throughout the world. With riders Mika Kalio and Aleix Espargaro to ride the team's two entries in the MotoGP World Championship Series, the Italian-based team just announced over the weekend that they will be doing a little bit of recycling themselves. Mika Kalio will be leaving the team after last weekend's Australian stop, and that they would be announcing a new rider to fill in for the final two rounds of the season in the next few days. Kalio has suffered from shoulder injuries earlier in the season that have limited his ability to get the most out of the bike.

According to the chatter at Yahoo EuroSport, that rider is Carlos Checa, who just wrapped up his year in the World Superbike Championship Seris less than two weeks ago. Checa may be best known to U.S. fans for taking the Ten Kate Hanspree Honda CBR to the double win at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah in WSBK competition in 2008. Not to mention his many years riding in the top-tier series globally.

This could be a big help to the team with Checa's vast experience in the top-level classes, but it could also be a potential nightmare if things don't go to plan. Especially as tight as things are in terms of who really is where on the track in road racing's premier series. But if nothing else it will be good to see someone like Checa on track. He's always a joy to watch on the track and hear in the after-race interviews as well.
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You can see Pramac's official site here:

http://www.pramacracing.com/

From Yahoo Eurosport, Carlos Checa to ride for Pramac Racing in remaining rounds of the MotoGP season:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13102010/23/carlos-checa-replace-kallio-pramac.html

Also from Yahoo Eurosport the announcement that Mika Kalio's last ride was last weekend in Philip Island:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18102010/23/kallio-leaves-pramac-ducati.html
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