KTM has two main test riders in MotoGP – Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró. Both have made wildcard appearances this season. But what does the work in the test team involve, and how is it carried out?
In an interview on the podcast Por Orejas by Motorsport.com, Espargaró revealed that he and Pedrosa have two different development paths – one focused on the future and one on the present:
– In the test team, Dani and I are always together, and we have two very different work paths. One is focused on the future, and the other is focused on the present, improving the package that the factory team and GasGas riders have in the World Championship. Then, another project running in parallel is the future – where the bike will be in 2025, even 2026. We try to manage these two paths in the best way, with both riders testing both things.
According to Espargaró, although Pedrosa is more dedicated to the future, their programs are mixed: ‘We try to combine the two programs and mix them as much as we can because things for the future might also be useful for the present. Usually, Dani is more focused on future work – 2024, 2025, 2026. And I’m normally more involved in the development of the current bikes. But, for example, in the next test at Misano, we will combine the work and switch because I rode in Mugello with this new prototype. So, we exchange tasks, and depending on how a project works, we mix things to be more productive’.