Marco Bezzecchi
Dani Pedrosa may have felt disrespected by KTM and their contract negotiation tactics over the last few years.
Even though Pedrosa grappled with his decision to retire from MotoGP years ago, he doesn’t seem eager to return to the track.
With Maverick Vinales’ injury issues getting the best of him, KTM tried to get Pedrosa, who is their reserve rider, to make a wildcard appearance for them.
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Away from the racing, Pedrosa has been testing KTM’s 850cc bike ahead of next season. But he didn’t want to take the opportunity to return to the track.
And this decision could partly come down to how KTM have treated Dani Pedrosa over the last few years, as it pertains to his contract.
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Dani Pedrosa has had his salary and contract length cut since 2018
According to Motorsport Spain, one of the reasons Pedrosa wouldn’t be keen to make a wildcard appearance for KTM comes down to money.
Since 2018, Pedrosa’s pay and contract length have regularly been axed, as KTM’s financial woes led them to routinely limit their spending.
On top of that, his final contract slashing included a provision that eliminated bonuses and financial incentives for test riders making wildcard appearances.
While the report makes it clear that this isn’t the primary motivation for Pedrosa to reject a wildcard appearance, it is mentioned that this may have affected the relationship between the two sides.
For a rider as experienced as Pedrosa, and one with the legacy that he holds, to make a frivolous return to MotoGP for almost no money makes very little sense.
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Dani Pedrosa could have competed well had he accepted a wildcard return
Some might believe that a rider like Pedrosa, who has been a test rider for several years now, and hasn’t raced in MotoGP regularly in quite some time, could struggle if put in that position.
However, that may not have been the case. The last time Pedrosa actively raced, he achieved a podium finish at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix Sprint.
With injuries to Maverick Vinales and Pol Espargaro, it makes sense why KTM would want to call on Pedrosa to represent them temporarily.
But without him making a wildcard appearance, they have no choice but to rely on their available riders and be short a rider on track.
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