MotoGP [OFFICIAL]: Pedrosa returns to Grand Prix on the KTM

This time, the decision has been made: Dani Pedrosa has decided to dive back into the deep end of competition by taking on the MotoGP regular riders as a wildcard. We were expecting the initiative in Misano, but it will take place from the Styrian Grand Prix on the Austrian lands of his employer KTM at the Red Bull Ring. The 35-year-old Spaniard has not lined up on a starting grid since 2018. That is to say an eternity in MotoGP…

The Spaniard's last Grand Prix was almost a thousand days ago with the 2018 meeting at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia where he qualified 5th. Since then it has been a development pilot KTM. For his return, he will ride an adapted development version of the KTM RC16 to obtain more valuable data in Grand Prix conditions.

Dani Pedrosa commented : " It’s been super interesting to be part of this project from the start with KTM in MotoGP and to be able to share my experience with them. Step by step we did our best and now it is interesting to participate in a race again because it gives you a different perspective compared to a normal test. It's been a long time since my last race and of course the mentality for a GP is very different from that for a test ».

« My goal for the GP is to try and test the things we have on the bike in a racing situation. I want to understand the requests that drivers may have for different sessions and technical characteristics. Watching from home I can see the improvements in motorcycles and racing, but to better understand today's MotoGP, new technologies and how to execute and use strategies against others, we will do this wildcard. It's hard to talk about my expectations after being away from competition for so long. This may or may not all fit into a racing mentality, but we will try to enjoy the weekend as much as possible »

KTM: “ we want Pedrosa to enjoy the Grand Prix« 

Mike leitner, Red Bull KTM race director added: “ it will be fun to see Dani again in MotoGP. He has been out of racing for a while but it will be valuable to have him in the garage at the Red Bull Ring to analyze the strong and not so strong parts of our KTM RC16 package in GP conditions which will give us a good indication of our test work. Dani had a great influence on our MotoGP project thanks to all his experience. The company has worked hard to accommodate your requests, as well as those of Mika Kallio ».

« Dani was a good reference since he retired at the end of 2018 while still at the top and we can see some of his influence on the current success of the KTM RC16. He will have a mix of the current bike and some small updates and will have some testing to do over the weekend, but we don't want to overload him either. We want him to enjoy the Grand Prix. There are a lot of young and strong riders in MotoGP at the moment so it will be tough, but it's a good way to learn more, to feel the current benchmark in the sport and it will help us for future tests. » The great return in MotoGP will be done 6 at August 8...