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Pedro Acosta, already confirmed to move to Ducati next season, is taking part in development testing of KTM's next-generation 850cc MotoGP machine at Brno. KTM explained why it entrusted future machine development to a rider who is on his way out.
Entrusting a departing rider with the new bike would normally seem hard to imagine. But Acosta's riding feedback has a value you can't just buy with money. With development already looking ahead to the 850cc era, they want his instincts in the mix at least once. I can understand KTM's call here.
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Made me want to read the article to see what reasoning KTM actually gave — is there a convincing explanation?
The 850cc next-gen test data is presumably meant to be handed over to the rider staying on.
Using a rider who's already confirmed to be leaving for development testing has happened before, but it always feels a bit off.
Won't it be a problem down the line that Acosta holds development data for a bike that's now, in effect, for a rival camp?
In MotoGP it's normal to keep racing for your current team right up until the transfer, so this might not be that extreme.
Isn't KTM being awfully generous, entrusting development testing to a rider who's already confirmed for Ducati next season?
This is just a contractual testing obligation, not some generous gesture.
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