Former MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet will return to KTM in a test role in place of the injured Mika Kallio, who is recovering from a serious kneww injury.
Kallio crashed heavily during FP3 in a wildcard appearance at the Sachsenring last month, and had to undergo a seven-hour operation after suffering extensive ligament damage to his knee.
With the Finnish rider's return to action in the near future in doubt, KTM has moved to fill the void by hiring Frenchman De Puniet, who tested for the Austrian marque throughout 2016.
“First, I wish Mika Kallio a quick recovery,” De Puniet said. “I'm happy to come back after almost two years and help the team now to further develop the RC16.”
A five-time race winner in the 250cc class, De Puniet stepped up to the premier class in 2006 with Kawasaki, before switching to LCR Honda in 2008.
Tallying up his only podium in 2009, De Puniet spent a season at Pramac in 2011 before switching to the Aspar squad aboard the CRT ART machine.
Taking on a testing role with Suzuki prior to its debut season, De Puniet's last premier class appearance came at the 2014 final at Valencia on the GSX-RR.
KTM confirmed during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that it was looking at adding a second rider to its test team alongside Kallio next year, with current rider Bradley Smith and the retiring Dani Pedrosa its main options.
Smith is the sole KTM representative at its home race at the Red Bull Ring after Pol Espargaro suffered a broken collarbone and inflamed spinal chord in a crash in warm-up at Brno.
The Briton will start from 13th in the 28-lap race, while Honda's Marc Marquez launch from pole position ahead of Ducati duo Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo.
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