to keep up and launch an attack on the final lap, crashing in the overly eager pace. He wrapped up the year to finish 3rd in the overall standings with 196 points, three victories, three 3rd places, and two fastest laps, not scoring a single pole position. MotoGP World Championship (2009–2010) On 19 October 2008, Kallio was announced as part of the new Pramac Racing lineup for the 2009 MotoGP season, riding alongside Italian Niccolò Canepa. Kallio was provided with the latest spec Ducati Desmosedici GP9 ensuring equality for the satellite teams and the factory squad. His MotoGP career started brightly with two 8th places from the opening two rounds at Qatar and Motegi. He then retired from the races in Jerez and Le Mans, before a 13th place in Mugello, and a 9th place in Barcelona. During much of the season however would be blighted with several accidents, most notably at the race in Assen, where Kallio crashed out of 6th place and burnt his finger down to the bone, losing the top section. He missed the race at Laguna Seca Raceway, being replaced by Aleix Espargaró, but was back in action at the Sachsenring in Germany, racing with a special custom-made glove to accommodate the bandage. He finished 14th in Germany, and 10th in England, when prior to the Czech race, Casey Stoner announced that he would miss the next three races due to health problems. Kallio was called in to replace Stoner at the Ducati factory team, retiring in Brno, finishing 8th in Indinapolis, and 7th in Rimini. Once his stint in place of Stoner was over, Kallio returned to Pramac for the final four races of the season, retiring in Portugal, finishing 9th in Australia, 10th in Malaysia, and 9th in Valencia. Overall it had been a positive debut season in the top class, and his 71 points amassed saw him rewarded with the "Rookie of the Year" award. On 30 September 2009, Kallio announced that he had signed a new one-year contract with Pramac Ducati that would see him ride for the team in the 2010 season. The 2010 season would prove to be an extremely difficult season for Kallio however. His new teammate Aleix Espargaró replaced Canepa, and gave Kallio a harder time than the Italian, often matching or outpacing him. Kallio would only pick up two top-10 finishes throughout the whole season, an