Dani Pedrosa should be fit to start his testing role with KTM in June, after an exploratory ride on the RC16 at Mugello showed that his recovery from collarbone surgery was on course.
This was revealed by technical chief Mike Leitner, who was Pedrosa’s crew chief for many years in both 250 and MotoGP class at Honda.
Thirty-one-times GP winner Dani was wearing KTM livery at the Spanish GP a fortnight ago, when a corner was named in his honour, and had a first outing on the bike last year, before the collar-bone stress fracture was diagnosed, requiring stem-cell treatment for the oft-injured bone.
Pedrosa’s input will be especially welcome to Johann Zarco, whose similarly smooth riding style has not gelled with the Austrian bike.