The retired 31-time MotoGP race winner stepped away from full-time racing on the finish of 2018 however has made sporadic wildcard outings since becoming a member of KTM as a take a look at rider.
Pedrosa raced on the Spanish GP and San Marino GP in 2023, ending fourth within the latter and seventh within the former in entrance of a rapturous dwelling crowd.
KTM famous at first of the season that all the pieces was in place for Pedrosa to wildcard at Jerez once more however was ready for the rider’s inexperienced gentle.
Talking on Thursday forward of this weekend’s Spanish GP, Pedrosa says it wasn’t one thing he was anticipating to do however “issues acquired somewhat bit attention-grabbing in testing” and prompted a change of plan.
“I am right here at this nice GP and looking out ahead to beginning tomorrow,” the three-time MotoGP championship runner-up mentioned.
“I did not anticipate, truthfully, to do that one once more after final yr. However issues acquired somewhat bit attention-grabbing within the testing, in order that’s why we selected to do it as soon as extra.”
Requested if the “attention-grabbing” ingredient was his pace, Pedrosa replied: “Nicely, the pace is difficult to guage once you race alone in testing.
“However we have now some objects to attempt, and they’re objects which might be essential to attempt in a extra, as an instance, traumatic manner as a way to see what can come out and if we are able to deal OK with it, as a result of usually within the exams you’ve gotten all day lengthy to arrange issues and to switch the bike.
Dani Pedrosa, Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“So, it is also with this new format much more traumatic as we noticed final yr. So, sure, this is among the causes.”
KTM sits second within the producers’ desk after three rounds, courtesy of podiums for Brad Binder in Qatar and Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta in Portugal and America.
Pedrosa says it is arduous to know if the updates he’s making an attempt will take KTM a step ahead, particularly as “information are being destroyed” by way of lap instances in 2024 and it is troublesome to check testing information towards this.
“It is troublesome to say from this attitude as a result of when you’re alone issues are a bit completely different,” he added when requested if KTM’s updates will supply a transparent enchancment.
“So, that is why we wish to measure somewhat bit the sensation this weekend and see how the bike is performing as a result of this yr we are able to see clearly within the first three races the lap instances and the race tempo is lots faster than final yr.
“So, we even have to guage that and adapt that to this yr as a result of out of the blue everyone is sort of half a second or extra quicker than final yr.
“Data are being destroyed just about in all places, even when the monitor situations weren’t tremendous good, like in Portugal.
“And the race whole time is far quicker. So, sure, we have now some issues we wish to attempt however we have now to place this [increase in speeds] into the equation to see if it is matching.”