Dani Pedrosa to Make Wildcard Appearance at Spanish GP
Kosport Magazine – 04/29/2024
After retiring from full-time racing in 2018, 31-time MotoGP race winner Dani Pedrosa has made sporadic wildcard appearances for KTM as a test rider. And now, he’s set to make another one at this weekend’s Spanish GP.
Pedrosa’s last wildcard outing was at the Spanish GP and San Marino GP in 2023, where he finished fourth and seventh respectively in front of a passionate home crowd. And now, KTM has confirmed that everything is in place for Pedrosa to make another wildcard appearance at Jerez.
In an interview with Kosport Magazine, Pedrosa revealed that it wasn’t something he was expecting to do, but “things got a little bit interesting in testing” and prompted a change of plan. He also expressed his excitement for the upcoming race, saying “I’m here at this great GP and looking forward to starting tomorrow.”
But what exactly made Pedrosa change his mind and agree to make another wildcard appearance? According to the three-time MotoGP championship runner-up, it was the “interesting” elements that came up during testing. He explained, “Well, the speed is hard to judge when you race alone in testing. But we have some items to try, and they are important to try in a more, let’s say, stressful way in order to see what can come out and if we can deal OK with it.”
Pedrosa also mentioned that the new format of the race weekend adds to the stress, as there is less time to set up and modify the bike compared to testing. But he believes that this will give him a better understanding of the bike’s performance and help him provide valuable feedback to the team.
KTM has been performing well this season, with podium finishes for Brad Binder and rookie Pedro Acosta. And Pedrosa’s wildcard appearance could potentially give them an even bigger boost. However, Pedrosa remains cautious about the updates he is trying, especially with the record-breaking lap times seen in 2024. He said, “It’s difficult to say from this perspective because when you are alone things are a bit different. So, that’s why we want to measure a little bit the feeling this weekend and see how the bike is performing.”
But one thing is for sure, Pedrosa’s presence at the Spanish GP will add an extra level of excitement for fans and could potentially shake up the standings. So, make sure to tune in and watch as the retired legend takes on the track once again.
Summary:
Kosport Magazine – 04/29/2024
31-time MotoGP race winner Dani Pedrosa is set to make a wildcard appearance at this weekend’s Spanish GP. After retiring from full-time racing in 2018, Pedrosa has made sporadic appearances for KTM as a test rider. But with “interesting” elements coming up during testing, he has decided to make another appearance at Jerez. This will give him a chance to try out important updates in a more stressful race environment and provide valuable feedback to the team. With record-breaking lap times seen this season, Pedrosa remains cautious about the updates but is excited to be back on the track. Make sure to tune in and watch as the retired legend takes on the Spanish GP once again.
