KTM’s latest announcement reveals Dani Pedrosa’s return to MotoGP racing as a wildcard at the Spanish Grand Prix, with Pol Espargaro set to compete in the Italian GP.
After retiring from full-time competition at the end of the 2018 season, Dani Pedrosa participated in two wildcards in 2023 as part of his role as a test rider with KTM. His first wildcard entry was at the Spanish GP in Jerez, where the 31-time MotoGP race winner impressively finished sixth in the sprint and seventh in the grand prix.
He then returned for the San Marino GP at Misano, securing fourth place in both races, narrowly missing his first podium since 2017.
Last month, KTM confirmed that everything was in order for Pedrosa to make a wildcard appearance at Jerez, pending the rider’s approval. “I had a lot of fun at Jerez last year, and the welcome from the fans was amazing,” said Pedrosa. “We all know Jerez is a special place. It will also be important for us to use some references for our tests and put it into the race environment again. This is the main reason for competing in 2024.”
KTM has also announced Pol Espargaro’s return to MotoGP, following his transition into a test rider role after losing his Tech3 ride to Augusto Fernandez. Espargaro is set to compete in the Italian GP at the start of June, marking his first MotoGP race appearance since last year’s Valencia GP.
Espargaro mentioned feeling more like his “old self” following his serious accident in Portugal last season, which sidelined him for half of the year, and he is eager to have a race outing on the new KTM.
“Really thrilled to be back on the race track, especially at Mugello, which holds a special place for MotoGP riders,” noted Espargaro. “It’s going to be great to line up with the guys again. Testing has been very positive, and I’m feeling highly motivated.
“After the injury in 2023, I feel more like my old self. I’m excited to rejoin the MotoGP ‘family’ and demonstrate the strength and speed of our testing efforts.”
Operating as a C-ranked manufacturer under MotoGP’s concession rules for 2024, KTM is permitted a maximum of six wildcards for the season. This means that Espargaro and Pedrosa could potentially make up to four more race appearances this year, depending on how KTM decides to use its remaining wildcards.
Yamaha, Honda, and Aprilia also have the ability to field at least six wildcards each throughout the 2024 season, thanks to their rankings within the new concessions system. However, Ducati is not permitted to field any wildcards.
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