Pol Espargaro Set for Third MotoGP Wild-Card Appearance with KTM at Misano Grand Prix

KTM announces an additional MotoGP wild-card entry for Pol Espargaro

Pol Espargaro to return to MotoGP racing with KTM at the Misano circuit.

Pol Espargaro is set to participate in his third MotoGP wild-card entry of the year at the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix in Misano this next weekend.

KTM's test rider, Dani Pedrosa, nearly reached the podium at Misano last year, securing two fourth-place finishes during the first race outing for the team's carbon fibre chassis.

Pedrosa returned to racing for KTM's initial wild-card event of the season in Jerez, securing a third-place finish in the wet Sprint race. Following this, Espargaro took the reins of the prototype RC16 for subsequent events in Mugello and Austria.

Espargaro, having retired from regular racing after the previous season to allow Pedro Acosta to join, has in the past achieved podium finishes at the Misano MotoGP with teams KTM (2020) and Repsol Honda (2021).

"Racing at Mugello allowed us to regain our pace in MotoGP, and following that, we felt significantly more in contention at Red Bull Ring, thanks to the extensive testing we had done there," Espargaro noted, as he competed closely with the quickest RC16 competitors during practice and qualifying sessions, ultimately securing finishes in the 9th to 11th positions.

"Misano is yet another circuit we're acquainted with, and I'm eager to return to the race following our efforts in Austria.

"We must verify certain information under competitive circumstances and assist Brad and Jack in adjusting their setups for the upcoming two Grand Prix events."

Espargaro's C concession status with KTM allows him to use an alternate engine setup compared to the primary race competitors. At the Austrian event, his RC16 was also equipped with unique aerodynamic features, exhaust systems, and chassis components.

The C privileges, which Aprilia can also utilize, permit a maximum of six wild-card entries each season. After the Misano race, KTM will have the option to use two more of these entries, if they decide to. A formal test session is scheduled for the Monday following the San Marino Grand Prix. MotoGP will resume with another race, the ‘Emilia Romagna’ event, two weeks afterward, serving as a replacement for the originally planned India/Kazakhstan race that was called off.

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