Johann Zarco Dropped by KTM For Remainder of 2019
Rennie Scaysbrook | September 17, 2019
After agreeing to let Johann Zarco out of a two-year MotoGP contract one year early at the end of the 2019 season, KTM has accelerated the deal and replaced Frenchman Johann Zarco for the remainder of the season with test rider Mika Kallio.
Zarco qualified eighth and finished 11th at the recent San Marino MotoGP, with teammate Pol Espargaro making headlines by sealing KTM’s best qualifying performance of second and finishing seventh.
“We have to make decisions to ensure that we use our resources in the best possible way and we are currently in a positive direction with our MotoGP structure,” said KTM Motorsport Director, Pit Beirer. “We firmly believe that Mika can help us in this stage thanks to his knowledge and background. It is paramount that we verify our testing results in real race conditions to start our 2020 season in the best position.”
Kallio has been one of the longest-serving members of the KTM MotoGP project, having made his debut with the team when the MotoGP machine was still in early development form in 2016.
“Mika has proved his ability on the RC16 and we are happy that he joins the line-up as a racer again,” said Beirer. “There is no doubt that we will focus on a new configuration with the #82 bike while fighting for points in the last races of the championship. At the same time, we want to express gratitude to Johann for his effort since he joined our ambitious project in November last year. We now have to think of the future and are making this step accordingly. KTM will continue supporting him until the expiry of our contract at the end of the 2019 and we truly wish him all the best for his future.”
Zarco is currently without a MotoGP ride for 2020 but is in talks with several manufacturers about securing a test role with limited wildcard appearances as a contract stipulation.
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