Carlos Checa looks increasingly likely to return to the MotoGP ranks before the 2010 season is out as rumours grow that he is being lined up to replace Mika Kallio at Pramac Ducati.
Speculation began circulating at Sepang that Checa, whose reputation in the Ducati ranks has soared on the back of his outstanding World Superbike campaign with Althea Racing, would take over from Kallio for the final two events at Estoril and Valencia.
While both parties have remained coy on the subject, rumours have spiked after Checa posted a video on Twitter of him testing the official Ducati GP10 machine at Mugello.
It is thought Checa, whose WSBK season is over, would be drafted in to replace the out-of-favour Kallio, who sits at the bottom of the MotoGP leaderboard for full-time riders and has finished at the back during the last three races.
The Spaniard, who has 220 grand prix starts to his name, would be an ideal replacement for Kallio, bringing necessary experience to a Pramac team that has persevered with two fairly novice riders in 2010.
The move, however, would not be a precursor to a potential MotoGP return for the 37-year-old as he has already committed to a two-year deal with Althea Ducati in World Superbikes.
Source: http://www.crash.net