In the latest turn of events, Dani Pedrosa will not be participating in the pre-season official testing as he would need to undergo surgery. This comes as unfortunate news for Red Bull KTM as it hired Pedrosa as its test rider after his retirement from MotoGP last season. KTM needs Pedrosa to develop its race bikes before the 2019 MotoGP season commences.
Speaking about his surgery, Pedrosa said, “Unexpectedly I had a double stress fracture in the right collarbone. Over the years I have had several fractures in that area and the last time was in three parts. The middle part does not have enough blood flow, creating osteoporosis, so it requires an effective solution to regenerate the bone and achieve adequate recovery. After undergoing several tests and medical consultations, the clear recommendation is the total recovery and bone health.”
He further said, “[I regret] these circumstances and I thank KTM for their great support for my full recovery,” he said. “We are very excited about the work we are doing and that is why I want to be physically in the best conditions for that exciting task. For me, the challenge does not stop.”
Pedrosa will miss the upcoming KTM’s pre-season test that is scheduled for 1-3 Feb 2019. There is also a second test during 6-8 Feb 2019. The final MotoGP pre-season test will be held two weeks before the start of the 2019 season, i.e, during 23-25 Feb 2019. The venue will be Qatar’s Losail International Circuit.’
We wish Pedrosa a successful surgery and quick recovery so that he can get back on the track and provide his valuable feedback and advice to improve KTM’s race bikes. We can’t wait for the 2019 MotoGP season to kick off.
