KTM are eligib🐬le for six wild-cards during the 2024 MotoGP campaign under the revised concessions rules,💖 but new test rider Pol Espargaro appears to only be planning ‘one or two’.

Espargaro, badly injured at the start of last season, has stepped down from full-time racing to allow rising star Pedro Acosta to make his MotoGP debut with GASGAS Tech3𒆙 this season.

The 32-year-ol𒐪d will 𓃲thus join Dani Pedrosa in development duties for the RC16.

But during today’s GASGAS launch motorsport director Pit Beirer suggested Espargaro’s main role wi𒁃ll be as a mentor for the factory’s young talents, Acosta and Augusto Fernandez.

“When we founded the GASGAS Factory Racing team [in 2023], it was clear that Pol comes onboard as the captain of the project and losing him as a rider a little bit too early was a difficult mom𝄹ent,” Beirer sa👍id.

“But now having him committed to the team; he said it clearly, he wants to be there as a test rider, maybe doing one or two wild-cards but especially giving advice to the young ꦏriders:

“I mean what is bette♔r than havin  such a great motorcycle racer like th💧at on your side making the team stronger?"

Teenage star A🍬costa admitted it felt a bit daunting to have big names like Pedrosa and Espargaro in his corner as he adapts to the premier-class.

“At the end havin🐟g for sure Dani and Pol, that are guys that really know how is the MotoGP class and also how is the KTM bike, will help a lot,” Acosta said.

“And having t✤hese guys so close to us,💮 like I saw in Valencia, will be so nice to try and improve as fast as possible.

“It’s true that – again – it won’t be easy to have these big names around me...bu🌄t we will try.”

If Espargaro only takes part in a couple of wild-c🗹ards💎 it would open the door for 31-time MotoGP winner Pedrosa, who finished a fraction from the podium at Misano last year, to make more race appearances in 2024.

"We are going to share the wild-cards. We don't have a fixed plan yet [to use all six], but there are some tracks where we are interested, where we know Dani should do a wild-card there. And Pol is for sure i🅠s going to do some wild-cards," Beirer confirmed.