KTM are eligible for🐈 six wild-cards during the 2024 MotoGP campaign under the revised concessions rules, but new test rider Pol Espargaro appears to only be planning ‘one or two’.

Espa⛄rgaro, badly injured at the start of last season, has stepped down from full-t𝄹ime racing to allow rising star Pedro Acosta to make his MotoGP debut with GASGAS Tech3 this season.

The 32-year-old will thus join Dani Pedrosa in development♚ duties for the RC16.

But duri💛ng today’s GASGAS launch motorsport director Pit Beirer suggested Espargaro’s main role will be as a mentor for the factory’s young talents, Acosta and Augusto Fernandez.

“When we founded the GASGAS Fa🦂ctory Racing team [in 2023], it was clear that Pol comes onboard as the cap🐼tain of the project and losing him as a rider a little bit too early was a difficult moment,” Beirer said.

“But now having him committed to the team; he said it clearly, he wants to be there as a test rider, maybe doing one or two wild-cards ꦜbut especially giving advice to the young riders:

“I mean🦹 what is better than havin  such a great mot♐orcycle racer like that on your side making the team stronger?"

Teenage star Acosta admitted it felt a bit daunting to have bꦯig names likeꩵ Pedrosa and Espargaro in his corner as he adapts to the premier-class.

“At the end having for sure Dani and Pol, that are guys that really k🍸now how is the 🔯MotoGP class and also how is the KTM bike, will help a lot,” Acosta said.

“And having these guys so close to us, like I saw in Valencia, will be so nice to try and improve as f🐻ast as possible.

“It’s true that – again – it won’t be easy to have t🅠hese big names around me...𓆉but we will try.”

If Espargaro only takes part in a couple of wild-cards it would open tꦚhe door for 31-time MotoGP winner Pedrosa, who finishe🌃d a fraction from the podium at Misano last year, to make more race appearances in 2024.

"We are going to share the wild-cards. We don't have a fixed plan yet [to use all six], but there are some tracks where we are interested, where we know Dan🔯i should do a wild-card there. And Pol is for sure is going to do some wild-cards," Beirer confirmed.