KTM was forced to change his line-up for 2021 as Pol Espargaro decided to leave to join Honda HRC. Austrian manufacturer’s desire was to keep their riders also for 2021, but at the end it was not possible and had to make some changes to the team with some unexpected twists.

Rumors regarding KTM saw Andrea Dovizioso linked to them, but with the Italian close to extend his contract with Ducati, KTM tried to make an offer to his teammate Danilo Petrucci, who was out of Ducati MotoGP project after Jack Miller’s announcement to be 2021 Ducati Factory Rider.

Things went impressively fast and in the last weeks Petrucci and his manager flew to Austria to visit KTM but not only as the Italian signed a contract for next year to race with them… but in the satellite Team, not the Factory one. Anyway, KTM does not have any distinction between the two crews as both are equipped with Factory bikes.

Tech3 Boss, Hervé Poncharal, underlined this aspect: “The fact we joined a rider like Danilo Petrucci proves that in KTM there is no more distinction between satellite and factory team. There are four KTM riders on the grid with the same support and equipment, they will be treated in the same way”.

Over that, Hervé had good words for Petrucci: “He is a ‘normal’ guy who always say hello; he has a lot of charisma and a great sense of humour. Let’s not forget that Danilo is a great team player and a MotoGP winner. He achieved his first win in his home grand prix battling Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez until last lap”

Danilo could help KTM to grow up: “I believe that his experience and knowledge will help our MotoGP project to grow and move on. He will find a family in Tech3, his positive mentality and attitude mixed to his will is going to help KTM”