Mykyta
Kalinin

Champion of Ukraine will continue to fight in the paddock of the World Superbike

Nick Kalinin, a 19-year-old Ukrainian rider, has signed a contract with the German team “Nutec - RT Motorsports by SKM - Kawasaki” and will compete in the FIM World Supersport 300 2019 World Championship (WorldSBK) with official support from Kawasaki Europe.

For the 2018 season, the only Ukrainian racer at the road racing World stage, participated with the Italian team “GP Project”, but due to the terrible accident during the Imola race and the subsequent injury, Nick Kalinin could not take part in all races of the world championship. The achievements of the pilot from Odessa include 4th place at the Grand prix of Spain, 6th place at the Grand Prix of Netherlands, 6th place at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic and the 7th place at the final stage in France. At the end of the season, Nick Kalinin took 14th place of the overall standings. The new season for the 2018 champion of Ukraine in the Supersport class will begin as part of an experienced German team under the direction of team manager Rob Vennegoor and technical director Frank Krekeler.

Nick Kalinin # 22: “I am very grateful to the team “GP Project” for the support and work this season. It was a very difficult year for us, but we managed. My goal for the 2018 season was to fight for the champion title, and I started the year very well. Before the accident in Imola, I was in the top 5 overall standings and hoped to repeat my last year's podium in Italy. But that hard accident at the third stage resulted in change for my plans. I missed the race in Britain, I lost points and I couldn’t train properly for several months. At that moment, I was supported by friends, parents, fans, and my main sponsor - Devin Battley, and I want to say thanks to EVERYONE, not only with words, but also with the result. Therefore, I decided to stay in the championship in the category WSSP300 for one more year. I still have a lot to say on the track, and I like the plan that my new team has. We quickly found a common language, so all that I want is to get on the bike, which Kawasaki will have in 2019, as soon as possible.”

Rob Vennegoor, team manager of “Nutec - RT Motorsports by SKM - Kawasaki”: “It will be an interesting year to work together with Nick Kalinin, a talented rider that we are happy to have in our new structure. RT Motorsports by SKM will shortly announce the other riders that will be Nick’s teammates on the great Kawasaki Ninja 400 bikes”.

For Kalinin, it will be the third season in the World Superbike paddock. In the course of his career at the World Supersport 300 Championship, the Ukrainian performed at 16 stages, at which he earned 86 points and led several times during the race. The best finish of Nick Kalinin is the third place at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix.

On October 13-14th, the final stage of the Supermoto Championship of Ukraine took place on the Kiev track “Chaika”. The last two races decided the fate of the title in the Open class, where the 19-year-old Nick Kalinin became the winner. Out of six races in the championship the Odessan claimed three wins and two podiums. Just two weeks earlier, Kalinin had already become the Superbike champion of Ukraine in the SuperSport class, and after it he decided to finish the season with not just a successful performance in Kiev - he wanted a double championship title.

Nick Kalinin # 22: “I wanted to finish the season with a good fight and an excellent result, and I did it! I’m very pleased with another title, for which I am grateful to my father and my great mental coach Devin for all the work this year. The Ukrainian Championship is always good training for international competitions, so I try to come and give my best. But if someone thinks that everything is so easy and predictable here - this is not true. All the guys are hard-working, developing and progressing, so the slightest problem or mistake ... and... come on, try to catch up. For example, in the last race my motorcycle broke down, and I was left without a result and no points. It is good that I was able to earn it before in the overall standings. Well, and, of course, I love to compete in the Supermoto Championship, so it’s doubly pleasant to become a champion!”

In addition to performing in the Open class, Nick Kalinin won in the Pitbike class this weekend. This is his first official performance on a motorcycle of the French brand YCF. As the rider himself said, after a positive experience of participating with a new bike, he is thinking about competing in this category on a regular basis.


Photo: Alexander Yakunin

September 30th, on the track of Magny-Cours in France was the final race of the World Championship World Supersport 300 with Odessan rider Nick Kalinin. The 19-year-old racer of the team "GP Project" after a difficult weekend and unsuccessful qualification - 21st place for the start – due to problems with the motorcycle, was able to become one of the fastest pilots of the last race of the season and gained 14 positions! This is the biggest breakthrough in the race of the World Championship in France. Among the top 40 motorcycle racers in the world, the Ukrainian entered the top seven in the last weekend of the 2018 season.

Nick Kalinin # 22: "I'm very happy to finish the season with a great race and good result. The last two days we faced problems with the motorcycle, we were looking for a solution, we tried something new and, fortunately, in the morning before the race in France we found a resolution. I had a difficult task to get out from the back and to the leading group. After all, it was the last race of the season and no one wanted to give in, so I tried not to go very aggressively. The rivals in places went like crazy, and I more cold-bloodedly tried to use their mistakes and every moment for overtakes. My tactic worked, I made my way to the leaders and was already in the top 10 for the last lap. If the race distance was more, I'm sure that I would get rid of this gap to the leader of the race in the next lap and fight for the podium. But I took off 14 positions and came 7th. This is a good result at the end of a difficult season. I want to thanks my sponsors: Devin Battley and Battley cycles, AM chain, RSVmoto; my team that worked hard for the result and all the fans that believed in me and supported me!”

At the end of the season, Nick Kalinin took 14th place of the overall standings. Recalling that Kalinin was in a serious accident at the World Championship in Italy and because of injury he could not take part in all races of season. In the asset of the pilot from Odessa, the 4th place Grand prix of Spain, the 6th place Grand Prix of Netherlands, the 6th place Grand Prix of the Czech Republic and the 7th place for the final stage in France.