MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa in SHOCK move to KTM for 2019.

Dani Pedrosa is set to join KTM’s test team in 2019, following his retirement from racing this year.

Pedrosa announced retirement from full-time MotoGP competition a couple of months ago. At the time, speculation was rife that he’d find another ride (maybe even in WSB) – but in the end he decided to take a break and hang up his racing boots.

But that’s not the whole story – Pedrosa, who spent his whole GP racing career with Honda, was reportedly offered the chance to stay in the fold as a test rider. But he had also been approached by KTM, whose MotoGP team is headed by his former long-time crew chief Mike Leitner.

And it was KTM who won the battle – tempting Pedrosa to make the switch from Honda. Reportedly, the wheels are already in motion for the move – with several members of the KTM test team already informed of his impending arrival. Interestingly, Pedrosa is expected to forgo any wildcard appearances and focus on developing the RC16 in testing.

It’s not been a great season for Pedrosa. His final season as a MotoGP rider is on course to end up as his worst in the championship, as he currently sits 11th in the standings and is yet to earn a podium finish. Speaking about his season, he said: “I still need a better [bike] setting, to find my good corner speed – that’s pretty much what I’m looking for every weekend. It seems like we’re not able to find the right balance that I need just to make the riding more effective. For me it doesn’t matter the track [I’m riding at] at this moment. The thing is in the setting with the bike.”