ROAD NEWS
DANI PEDROSA TO MAKE GP RETURN WITH KTM
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has announced that test rider and overall MotoGP Legend , Dani Pedrosa , will swing a leg over the RC16 for the Gran Premio de España at Jerez . This will be the second time that the winner of 31 MotoGP Grands Prix will compete aboard the KTM RC16 . The first occasion came at the Red Bull Ring for the 2021 Grand Prix of Styria where he scored points and 10th place . Pedrosa ’ s ties with KTM go back to 2019 where he has been part of the test team with former Grand Prix winner Mika Kallio , helping fashion the KTM RC16 to achieve victories and podiums . The Spaniard has a good record at Jerez , winning four Grands Prix . He claimed the 30th MotoGP victory of his career ( the 53rd in world championship competition through 125 , 250 and the premier class ) at the venue in 2017 , and has walked the Jerez podium nine times . He will share the garage for 2023 with current Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Brad
Binder and Jack Miller . “ It ’ s fantastic news that Dani wants to refresh himself with MotoGP this season and Jerez makes good sense as it ’ s a popular place for us to test and , also , he knows the place very well ,” explains Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager , Francesco Guidotti . “ It will be an ideal opportunity for him to get more information for the future development of our race bike and we look forward to having him with us in the pitbox .”
“ Mika Kallio , Dani Pedrosa and our whole test programme is so important and of course they have limited track time ,” says KTM Motorsports Director , Pit Beirer . “ Dani is a strong guy with a strong mentality and we always said when he wanted to do a wildcard then we ’ d be happy to make that happen . The perfect ‘ test ’ is always a race situation . If we can work on future development parts then it is super-important and I ’ m very happy that Dani will race again .”
KIWI RIDER 21