“KTM Teases Dani Pedrosa’s Anticipated Debut Wildcard Race in 2024”
MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa is set to make a special entry in the 2024 season and KTM is tipping the Spaniard to take part in the Jerez race in Spain. At 38, Pedrosa remains a KTM test rider and plans to race in his home country on April 28.
KTM sporting director Pete Bearer expressed confidence in Pedrosa’s participation in Jerez, telling Sport1: “It looks pretty safe. Everything else will be decided depending on the season, based on the races needed for testing.”
The uncertainty will be settled when the KTM test rider will field his wildcard following the withdrawal of Tech3 GASGAS’s Pol Espargaro, depending on the team’s testing needs during the season.
Last year, Pedrosa surprised everyone by appearing as a wildcard at two races (Spain and San Marino), finishing seventh in Spain and fourth in San Marino, despite retiring from full-time racing from 2018.
Pedrosa, the winningest rider in MotoGP history who has never won a championship, shared his thoughts on racing at a high level at the age of 38: “Now that I’m that old, when I stop I remember Valentino Rossi winning the last race. At 38, or Loris Capirossi At 37? I was young then and I didn’t appreciate enough what they can win at that age. Now, at the same age, competing with young people and fighting at the top, I know that competing at the highest level at this age is your young age. It’s harder than that. No doubtful.”
In addition to his infrequent race appearances, Pedrosa played an important role in the development of KTM, contributing to the advancement of riders such as Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez. KTM, which aims to be as close to dominant Ducati as possible, is banking on Pedrosa’s development work to achieve that goal in 2024.
