KTM gets Honda go-ahead for early Pedrosa run

As revealed by German publication Speedweek, Pedrosa will get his first taste of the RC16 at Jerez on December 18-19.

The original plan was for the 33-year-old, who retired from active MotoGP competition after the conclusion of the 2018 season, to make his first appearance for KTM in February's first pre-season test at Sepang.

But the Austrian manufacturer has since secured Honda's blessing to give Pedrosa a first run prior to the end of the year, when his contract with Honda expires.

It follows Ducati allowing Jorge Lorenzo to ride for Honda in both of last month's post-season tests at Valencia and Jerez, although the three-time premier class champion was not permitted to make any statements to the media.

Pedrosa joins Mika Kallio in KTM's test line-up for 2019 after choosing to call time on a career in which he scored 31 MotoGP race wins and also secured three titles in the 125cc and 250cc classes.

His 2018 campaign was the worst of his MotoGP tenure however, as he ended up 11th in the standings after failing to win a race all year for the first time since 2001 - his first year in 125s.