KTM test rider Mika Kallio undergoes surgery after breaking leg
KTM MotoGP test rider Mika Kallio has undergone successful surgery on a broken tibia and fibula after an ice racing accident sustained in his homeland of Finland.
The 38 year-old was not due to test the new KTM RC16 at the upcoming Qatar test on March 6-7, with Dani Perdosa the only KTM test rider on the entry list.
Pedrosa is scheduled to test the RC16 bike in Qatar along with factory riders Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira ahead of the 2021 season which begins on March 28.
However, as well as some testing duties, Kallio is KTM's designated MotoGP replacement and wild-card rider, most recently substituting for Iker Lecuona when the Tech3 rider was diagnosed with Covid at the end of last season.
Kallio shared details of the incident before his surgery on social media saying: "Tibia and fibula surgery awaits, unfortunately sometimes a small stupid mistake has painful consequences. Not what I had in my mind for today’s iceroadrace, will be forced off bikes for 7-8 weeks to recover. Apologies to those concerned, this is the darker side of racing, even as a hobby."
Although the Finn managed to temporarily stay onboard his bike during the accident, Kallio was visibly in pain suggesting some type of recoil when his bike launched into the air before landing hard into the snow.
The recovery time-frame given by Kallio on his Instagram suggests he will likely be out of action until the beginning of May at the earliest.
Kallio's injury further justifies KTM's decision to have more than one Factory test rider available, in case of such incidents. That is especially the case after the loss of concessions, with the factory's full time MotoGP riders no longer able to take part in private tests.
