Pol Espargaro’s Second Wildcard Appearance of 2024 at Austrian GP

Pol Espargaro will join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at the Austrian Grand Prix for his second wildcard appearance of 2024, aiming to continue his strong performance and contribute to KTM’s testing program.

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Pol Espargaro is set to make his second official wildcard appearance of the 2024 MotoGP season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at the Austrian Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Spaniard will be back on the grid with his KTM RC16 at the Red Bull Ring from August 16-18, during the 11th round of the 20-round championship.

Espargaro, who is new to the KTM MotoGP testing program this year, made his return to competitive racing at the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello in early June. His performance was impressive, as he quickly found his pace and consistently ranked within the top fifteen in practice sessions. He secured a respectable 14th place in the Sprint race and finished 17th in the main Grand Prix event.

Pol Espargaro’s history with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is notable. He rode for the team from 2017 to 2020 and achieved KTM’s first-ever podium finish in the premier class in 2018. After stepping away from full-time racing in 2023, his current wildcard entries serve a dual purpose: they provide valuable data for KTM’s testing program and help him stay sharp and oriented for his testing duties.

Espargaro has had success at the Red Bull Ring before, climbing the podium at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix with the KTM RC16. This year will mark his ninth MotoGP race at the Austrian circuit.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Pol Espargaro said, “I’m ready to go again! Mugello was a special circuit to make my return for Red Bull KTM but it also doesn’t get much more special than Red Bull Ring. For the track, the place, the fans, and the atmosphere, and for how much this Grand Prix means to KTM, it also feels a bit like a home race for me. I have some good memories of fighting for the win there but, like in Italy, the goal will be to get on the track with the KTM RC16 and continue our testing program. We will have work to do but I know the Austrian GP will also be a lot of fun.”

Fans and team members alike are eagerly anticipating Espargaro’s performance at the Red Bull Ring. With his experience and previous successes at the circuit, expectations are high for another strong showing. This appearance not only adds excitement to the Austrian Grand Prix but also provides a significant opportunity for KTM to gather crucial data and further develop their MotoGP project.