After its most successful season in MotoGP yet, KTM is proud to announce that they’ll be retaining the services of both Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kallio as their official test riders going into 2021. Both riders have been essential in developing the KTM RC16 into a race-winning machine in the premier class.
Thanks to both of these very talented riders, the KTM RC16 has won three races in the 2020 MotoGP championship season followed by another five podium finishes, 27 top-ten finishes, and many other. The Red Bull KTM factory squad finished the season strong in fourth while the Red Bull KTM Tech3 boys finished seventh.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director, stated, “We’re pleased to be able to keep the stability and all the knowledge we have with our current testing team. In 2020 we could show how well and how fast we are working behind-the-scenes for our MotoGP programme and both Mika and Dani’s input were important in the progress we have made. It’s only been four years but it gives the whole company a lot of pride and excitement to be able to set new targets and to make more memories in MotoGP.”
According to Dani Pedrosa, “KTM is very keen to keep improving and I’m only too happy to keep working with them and helping their riders onto bigger goals. I want to thank Pit Beirer, Stefan Pierer and Red Bull for all their trust in me.”
As for Mika Kallio, he commented “It is great to continue this project. Five years have passed already with this crew and I cannot believe time has gone so fast. It has been rewarding to see the development of the bike and all the phases which have got us here. Especially in 2020 with victories and podiums; it has been amazing.”
