Pedrosa, who retired from full-time competitors on the finish of the 2018 season, contested two wildcards in 2023 as a part of his check rider function with KTM.
The primary was on the Spanish GP at Jerez, the place the 31-time MotoGP race winner completed a formidable sixth within the dash and seventh within the grand prix.
He returned for the San Marino GP at Misano and went on to complete fourth in each races, narrowly lacking a primary podium since 2017.
Final month KTM confirmed that it had every little thing in place for Pedrosa to make a wildcard at Jerez and have been ready for the rider to offer his approval.
“I had quite a lot of enjoyable at Jerez final yr and the welcome from the followers was superb,” mentioned Pedrosa.
“Everyone knows Jerez is a particular place. For us it can even be vital to make use of some references for our exams and put it into the race setting once more. That is the primary purpose to compete in 2024.”
KTM has additionally confirmed the date for Espargaro’s MotoGP return, after he stepped right into a check rider function having misplaced his Tech3 journey to Augusto Fernandez.
Espargaro will contest the Italian GP firstly of June, marking his first MotoGP race look since final yr’s Valencia GP.
Espargaro says he feels extra like his “previous self” following his severe accident in Portugal final season that dominated him out for half of the yr and is trying ahead to getting a race outing on the brand new KTM.
“Actually blissful to be racing once more and particularly at Mugello, which is a really particular place to get on a MotoGP bike,” Espargaro famous.
“Will probably be cool to be again on the grid with the fellows. Testing has been going rather well and I’m very motivated.
“I’m extra like my ‘previous self’ after the damage of 2023. I’m trying ahead to being proper again into the MotoGP ‘household’ and exhibiting that our testing work is robust and quick.”
As KTM operates as a C ranked producer underneath MotoGP’s concession guidelines for 2024, it’s allowed a most of six wildcards for the season.
As such, Espargaro and Pedrosa may make as much as 4 extra race appearances this yr relying on how KTM needs to divide up its remaining wildcards.
Yamaha, Honda and Aprilia are additionally in a position to discipline at the least six wildcards throughout the 2024 season on account of their rankings throughout the new concessions system.
Ducati isn’t allowed to discipline any.
