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Dani Pedrosa says he has raced for the final time in MotoGP
MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa will not reach a milestone 300 starts, as he confirms he will do no more wildcard outings in his role as KTM test rider. The 40-year-old Spaniard made his MotoGP debut in 2006 and spent his entire full-time racing career with Honda. Dani Pedrosa won 31 grands prix and was runner-up in the championship on three occasions, with many considering him the best rider never to win the title. He retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2018 season, before taking up a role as official KTM test rider from 2019. Pedrosa kept himself away from wildcard and replacement rides initially, though he eventually made his first start with KTM at the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix. He finished 10th in that race, but wouldn’t make his next start until a wildcard at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix, where he stunned with sixth and seventh-place results. His most recent outing was the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, where he inherited a podium in the sprint after Fabio Quartararo was given a tyre pressure penalty. Pedrosa commented: “I think my time has passed.” Tech3 announced that Maverick Vinales would not start at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, opening a potential door for Pedrosa to join, but he confirmed he would not make any more MotoGP race starts.
