Dani Pedrosa is set to make 🐈his debut as a KTM MotoGP test rider 💫later this month.

The former Repsol Honda rid♓er, who retired from racing at Valencia, had been expected to complete his first RC16🅰 laps during February's opening 2019 test at Sepang.

However KTM CEO Stefan Pierer told Speedweek.com that Pedrosa's debut has now been brought forward to 𒁃December 18-ꦺ19 at Jerez, with Honda agreeing to release the Spaniard.

"We are now t📖esting with P𝓀edrosa before Christmas and not only at the IRTA test in Malaysia in February," Pierer is quoted as saying.

"We had agreed that he would not test in Novemb൲er. But now we have found a fair solution wiꦛth Honda. I'm curious what comes out of this test.

"We've had a lot of new🔜 components to try because Mika has been badly injured since July and could not test."

Pol Espargaro was the top KTM rideꦜr during official post-season testing at Valencia and Jerez, but only 13th and 17th respectively, with new star-signing Johann Zarco𒈔 down in 21st and 19th.

Such results could have prompted the factory, which took its debut podium with Espargaro🍰 in the wet🎃 Valencia race, to pursue the earlier December test for Pedrosa.

Since Pedrosa is no longer a full-time MotoGP rider, he is not subject to the winter test ban, which ꦦbegan on December 1 and runs until January 31.

The #26 will be sharing KTM test duties with Mika Kallio and be reunit🍸ed with former crew chief Mike Leitner, now team manageꦍr of Red Bull KTM.

Pedrosa 😼won 31&nbs💯p;races and was MotoGP title runner-up three times between 2006-2018, having been a triple champion in the 125cc and 250cc classes between 2003-2005.