Dani Pedrosa a🌼nd Mika Kallio will retain their rolesꦺ as test and development riders for the KTM Factory Team for 2021 as the Austrian manufacturer looks to progress on from a breakthrough campaign in 2020.

Wh🤡ile Kallio has been involved in the KTM MotoGP project from the very start, including giving the RC16 its MotoGP debut during a single race outing in 2016 prior to its full arrival in 2017, Pedrosa ca𓃲me on board ahead of the 2019 season after decades as a Honda rider.

Considered something of a coup at the time, not least because of his intimate Honda history, the KTM RC16 of 2020 was regarded as the 🍸first developed to be developed directly from Pedrosa’s input and thus has been credited as the key factor in helping it to achieve three victories, eight 🍸podiums and fifth in the overall riders’ classification.

2020 MotoGP - Winners & Losers Part.1

“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 ꦛওin me.”

While Pedrosa has repeate🎀dly turned down overtures from KTM to consider a racing role too, colleague Kallio has retained a fairly healthy racing career of 14 starts through various wild-card and substitute showings, not least in 2020 when he concluded the year at Tech 3 Racing in place of Iker Lecuona.

“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 wh♓ich have got us here. 

“Especially in 2020 with victories and podiums; it has been amazing. It is good to see all the hard work and dedication paying off for everyone involved in the project. I have 👍worked with KTM for eleven years now during my career, which is basically half of my whole time in racing. KTM is m♍y second family and I am proud and privileged to continue being with this company. 

“I think the results of this year motivate both the crew and ride🐬rs towards an even bette📖r 2021, so I am already looking forward to the upcoming season. I think we have now what it takes to fight at the top.”