• Hafizh Syahrin will be riding a factory KTM RC16 in MotoGP next season as he signed a one-year contract extension with Tech 3.

• Together with Miguel Oliveira, there will be four factory-spec KTM machines with Johann Zarco and Pol Espargaro.

• This also marks Hafizh as the first ever Malaysian rider to race on a factory bike in the premier class.

The current Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad has confirmed that their current MotoGP rider Hafizh Syahrin will be staying with them for the 2019 season. The Malaysian rider has signed a one-year contract extension where he will be piloting a factory-spec KTM RC16 next year.

It comes as no surprise as the 24-year-old Malaysian rider as he has been quite phenomenal in his first ever MotoGP season. Despite all the pressures of testing the bike late and the responsibility of being the first ever Malaysian rider in the premier class, he has indeed impressed everyone including Tech 3 team manager, Herve Poncharal.

Six rounds have concluded at Hafizh have scored a total of 17 points from four point-scoring finishes. This puts him in the lead for the title of MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year against last season’s Moto2 world champion, Franco Morbidelli.

According to Hafizh, “It’s hard for me to say and to believe. First of all, I have to say thank you very much to Hervé for trusting in me and giving me this opportunity to stay with the Tech3 family and at the same time to join the KTM family.”

“I also have to express a huge thank you to my manager Dato’ Razlan, who helped me to achieve this dream arriving in the MotoGP class, plus thank you to KTM for believing in Hervé and in me. I will work hard for 2019 and I’ll be better prepared, as this is not as surprising as this season. I’m incredibly happy to get this chance, I even feel close to crying with joy. Thanks to everybody and especially to Hervé and Dato’ Razlan for always believing in me,” added the Malaysian.

Next season is going to be something special as he teams up with current Moto2 championship leader Miguel Oliveira, Johann Zarco, and Pol Espargaro on board factory-spec 2019 KTM RC16. This is also another first for Hafizh will be the first ever Malaysian rider to pilot a factory bike in the series.

Image source: MotoGP

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