KTM, Mo🦩toGP's newest 🍷manufacturer, is 'proud' to have secured the services of 54-time grand prix winner Dani Pedrosa as its new test rider.

After 18 years on Honda machinery in the 125♉cc, 250cc and MotoGP classes, Pedrosa c♈ompeted in his final race at Valencia in November.

The Spaniard found out he had lost his Repsol Honda seat to Jorge Lorenzo during the midd𓆉le of this season, but could have continued his career by moving to Sepang Yamaha, or remained at Honda as a test rider.

Instead, Pedrosa chose a fresh challenge at KTM, where he will 168澳洲♎幸运5官方开奖结果历史:no💟w make an early RC16 debut at Jerez on December 18🐟-19, rather than Sꦗepang in February.

"We are definitely really, really proud that a rider like Dani ♍is coming on our side and bringing his experience into our projec♊t," said KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer.

"In the beginning he wanted to stop💎 [racing], then maybe not to🅠 stop and there was another project for him coming up [the satellite Yamaha].

"We didn’t put any e🐠xtra pressure on him to decide, but he knew from the beginning we really,😼 really wanted him because he can give a huge value to our project in terms of development for the future.

"I think that’s always great for a rider - if he stops his career, that he gets the feeling he’s rꦰeally needed somewhere and not just a marketing idol or something," added Beirer, himself a former motocross grand prix title contender.

"So I think there is still a lot of fire in him and he wanted to get a job whe𒀰re he needs to work. That’s definitely something we can supply him with!"

Beirer also hopes that the combined efforts of Pedrosa and long-time KTM test rider Mika Kallio will take some of the technical burden from Pol Espargaro and new factory🍌 team-mate Johann Zarco.

"I think our riders [have been] 🅷in a difficult situation because they came to the project with a difficult bike, they had to change parts every week and were always distracted from pure racing," Beirer said.

🌸KTM claimed its first MotoGP podium with third place for Espargaro in the wet Valencia finale, allowing the factory to snatch fifth in the constructors' championship from Aprilia.

The RC16, which made its MotoGP debut with Kallio at Val🅰encia 2016, has taken a best race result of ninth in the dry.

KTM will also field a satellite team in 🧸2019, having ꦅjoined forces with Tech3.

"Wꦉe need to see this as a long-term pꦛroject," said Beirer.

"We could prove that we take it very seriously and have a great team and staff. The next step is we got riders like Johann, who gave u🐬s the trust already very early, and we have Dani coming overꦫ as a test rider.

"So I think if we did not work so professionally, they would not give us this trust. So this was already for us a little payback and 💝will put the project definitely on another format.

"Getting the Tech3 team over with Herve and all his team and all the experienc🎃e they have in that class w🐼ill also make us stronger."