At KTM, we are faced with a puzzle: how to quickly replace Johann Zarco who has been given permission to leave? A priori, there is the driver you need in stock. This is Dani Pedrosa, three-time World Champion with proven experience. But the latter is retired and has signed up for a test pilot mission. However, the KTM pundits are trying to persuade him to take back control. But that would be shooting yourself in the foot. Here's why…
Wanting to focus on the urgency of the present, KTM could well hamper the future. The managers of the Mattighofen brand are thinking very hard about a solution Pol Espargaro – Dani Pedrosa in an official team which will be orphaned Johann zarco. Not only is the main party involved, a former Honda employee, not very enthusiastic about the prospect, but it would also be counterproductive for the RC16 project where there is still so much to do.
A situation which is thus described by Sebastian Risse, technical director of KTM MotoGP: “ At the moment Pedrosa is very useful in the areas of motors and electronics, where he has much more experience than our current official drivers and Mika Kallio » he comments on crash.net. “ This is one of our main approaches during this season ».
The same Cracks adds an essential point: “ next year's bike is also in Pedrosa's hands to a large extent ". An essential mission which would not suffer from a delay because of an injured driver who left to compete in Grands Prix instead of peaceful work at the factory. Rather than sending it to the front, KTM would rather optimize it on its rear base to make the RC16 a more user-friendly motorcycle.
