Is KTM’s Mika Kallio testing in ‘850cc spec’ at the Sepang Shakedown?
KTM test rider Mika Kallio appears not to be using a ride-height system at the Sepang MotoGP Shakedown.
Mika Kallio was a surprise addition to KTM’s Sepang MotoGP Shakedown line-up, returning to the RC16 alongside regular test riders Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa.
Interestingly, these images suggest Kallio was running without a ride-height or holeshot device.
With ride-height systems set to be banned from the 2027 MotoGP regulations, this immediately prompted speculation that the Finn could be testing at least some items for KTM’s future 850cc machinery.
Suspicions first emerged during practice starts at the end of day one. While Espargaro’s 2026-spec RC16 lowered as usual, Mika Kallio attempted a race start at a standard ride height, resulting in a wheelie:
Reviewing images from earlier in the day then showed that, on corner exit, Kallio’s bike again appeared to remain at normal height, in contrast to Pedrosa’s lowered RC16:
Kallio then looks to have continued at ‘normal height’ during the start of day two:
KTM became the first manufacturer to run an 850cc MotoGP engine on track last December at Jerez, with Espargaro and Pedrosa completing the initial outing.
Asked by Crash.net whether Kallio had tested the 850cc engine during Thursday’s shakedown running, KTM explained that Kallio was present primarily to assist with the workload of Espargaro and Pedrosa - but would also “test items that are in an earlier development stage that don’t need an ultimate stress test”.
While no confirmation was given, the wording leaves open the possibility that those ‘earlier development stage’ items involve KTM’s 2027 project.
If the Finn is riding without a ride-height device combined with either reduced engine power or an 850cc engine, it would also explain the 4-5 second lap time gap to the other KTMs. Removal of the ride-height device alone would not cause such a big lap time difference.
Either way, Kallio can be seen riding with Michelin tyres, rather than the Pirelli rubber to be introduced under the next-generation regulations.
Day three update: Kallio made a big lap-time leap, from a best of 2m 3.203s to a 1m 59.807s on the final day.
That was much closer to the other KTM riders - 2.5s behind Pol Espargaro and 1.4s from Dani Pedrosa - underlining that Kallio was probably testing something 'very different' on the previous days, then did some laps on the current 1000cc machine on day three.
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