KTM may have six wildcards in the 2024 MotoGP season, distributing them between two of their test riders – Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró. Jonas Folger does not seem to be in the equation, at least not at this time according to sports director Pit Beirer.
The Austrian emphasized that having Espargaró do all six wildcards is not on the table: ‘We would like to be very flexible in using the wildcards when it makes sense. Of course, there was talk of giving all six wildcards to Pol, but that was never agreed upon because it simply needs to make sense for the project. Of course, it also took some time for Pol to accept the change and see his new role. But things have already changed a lot on his part. When you take the pressure off your shoulders of being a MotoGP rider week after week and you can take that small step back, you also see things differently‘.
According to Beirer, there is currently no defined wildcard program, emphasizing the flexibility that is desired: ‘We don’t even have a plan for six wildcards. There are some tracks where it will be interesting, surely Dani should do a wildcard there, and it is certain that Pol will do some wildcards because it is simply good for the testing process, the race tires you receive, and having the bike together with the other race riders. But of course, it won’t be six wildcards for Pol. It will be a sharing, I feel more between Pol and Dani than Jonas. But what makes sense at the right moment can change, so there is no fixed plan‘.
