Checa in, Kallio out at Pramac Ducati

MOTORCYCLE RACING veteran Carlos Checa will make a return to MotoGP, albeit as a stand-in rider for Mika Kallio at Pramac Ducati, for the final two rounds of the 2010 World Championship.

Checa quit premier class racing at the end of 2007, having scored two wins in the 500cc class during his MotoGP career. The 38-year-old Spaniard will now replace Mika Kallio on the second Pramac Ducati after the rider announced he will not be racing in MotoGP for the forseeable future.

Last week, Visordown reported the news that Checa had already tested the Desmosedici racer earlier in the month at Mugello, Italy.
 
The news comes following Mika Kallio's announcement that he will be leaving Pramac MotoGP forthwith, following an up-down season plagued by injury. The Finn scored an 11th place at his final race for the team at Phillip Island.

"It is since Japan's race that the pain in my left shoulder, injured in Le Mans race, has become too intense," said Kallio. "I immediately talked to the team who understood my situation and agreed that I would try to race in Malaysia and Australia and then decide to continue or not in the last two races.

"Unfortunately, despite the good race today, the pain didn't allow me to perform in the best way, and together with the Team, we decided to conclude our partnership today. It has been a hard choice for me, but in this way I'll be able to find the best physical condition and think about my future.

"I would like to thank Paolo Campinoti that was very helpful in managing this situation. I would like to also thank all the technical staff of the Pramac Racing Team with which I have found myself very well in this two years and I'll always remember them with great affection."