The transfer market is not quite over for KTM in MotoGP. Certainly, officially, this is the only bike still to be awarded and it is at Tech3. However, rumor insists that it will soon be entrusted to Augusto Fernandez who will therefore be the only 2023 rookie with Pol Espargaró as a teammate, an old acquaintance if there ever was one of Hervé Poncharal. The latter is apparently preparing to find another of his former pilots within the walls of KTM since the Marrighofen brand would have set its sights on Jonas Folger to succeed not Dani Pedrosa, aged 37, but the forty-year-old Mika Kallio.
The Finn has in fact 40 years, like Sylvain Guintoli who was therefore not retained by the Austrians even though he will be released from his commitments with Suzuki. On the Frenchman, the position of the staff KTM is clear, formulated as follows: speedweek by Hubert Trunkenpolz, Member of the Board of Directors : " Suzuki's Guintoli is too old. Finding a top man is not easy. The test driver is extremely important ". The boss Stefan pierer complete: “Mika Kallio has done some very long runs this year as well as suspension tests. We have to replace it. In terms of test pilots, we are definitely looking for someone ».
KTM considered Stefan Bradl but should hire Jonas Folger
And the first choice was Stefan bradl. But he will remain faithful to Honda : " Stefan Bradl has a contract with HRC for 2023. This has been a problem for us. We don't have a bad relationship with Stefan. But a contract is a contract » says Pierre. SO ? So, the name of Jonas Folger is mentioned. The German has 29 years and it is only 88 km from the KTM Factory Racing headquarters in Munderfing.
He also experienced health problems which cost him his career as a regular pilot, a situation that he remembers very well. Hervé Poncharal since the German was then the teammate of Johann zarco from the time of the Yamaha. Life is an eternal beginning again. As for Mika Kallio, he did not throw him into the street. He will take care of the young pilots playing in the family KTM.
