KTM announced Randy de Puniet to replace Mika Kallio as test driver until the end of 2018.

Kallio has the role of testers since manufacturer Austria debut MotoGP season. But a knee injury AFTER a crash at Sachsenring WAS SO STRONG THAT HE had to stop for a few months..

The appointment of De Puniet was not surprising. De Puniet, Thomas Lüthi, Karel Abraham and Alex Hofmann were involved in the early stages of development at 2016 RC16.

France racer, now appears regular on the endurance World Championship (EWC), also once raced a MotoGP between 2006 and 2013, before joining the Suzuki as test drivers, as well as taking part in Valencia 2014.

"I am very happy we could Randy de Puniet for five months ahead, " said KTM Motorsports Director pit Beirer,.


"He will be our test drivers start now, because we still have a lot of components to be tested and there is not a lot of drivers out there who may racer the at  top level.

"I also don't just talk about time, I mean how to behave like a motorcycle . They are the rockets, they are dangerous. So You need a man who know how to behave with other drivers on the track.

"I am very pleased Randy is back, because he is part of our development programs and will also be happy to hear his comments after he did not ride a motorcycle for a while.

"Really glad that some of our problems resolved now," he added.

Beirer admitted, KTM faced problems related to Espargaró 's replacement.

He also stressed, that De Puniet will only race at Silverstone if HE WILL PASS PREPARATION TESTS.

"We talk to Randy about it and he said, ' if I have a previous test, I will be performing at Silverstone. But if only for appearances with motor racing, I don't want to do it ', " said Beirer.

"I think this is true and I appreciate the answer. Also since we talk in press conferences that we were looking for a replacement driver, Pol called me and said, ' I will be performing at Silverstone, so don't ' don't get nervous, I'm ready, I'll be there '.

"My biggest Hope is to recover as soon as Pol that he did in the last two days. He's really experienced major advances, the pain will be reduced. Answers the most good is the Pol is back, but we just look at it later, "

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