Johann Zarco has finally announced that he’ll be joining the KTM factory racing team for the 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons.
The French rider will be paired with Pol Espargaro who has also renewed a two-year contract with KTM.
KTM is confident that Zarco will be able to put the KTM RC16 onto the podium.
MotoGP rider Johann Zarco has finally confirmed all the suspicions regarding where his riding career will head next season. It was recently announced that he’ll be joining the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for 2019 and 2020 and will be riding the KTM RC16 machinery.
This announcement was made following Pol Espargaro’s two-year contract extension where the Spaniard will also continue his racing career with the KTM factory racing team until the end of the 2020 season. This means that Bradley Smith will get the boot at the end of this season and his future in MotoGP is still uncertain.
According to Johann Zarco’s Facebook page, “My career will continue where everything began, from Red Bull Rookies Cup to the conquest of the MotoGP title. You understand it, I join KTM Factory Racing for the next two years. I’m very happy to ride this KTM, which we have the same ambitions: Ready to race!”
As for Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director, he stated that “There has always been a good contact with Johann and since the Red Bull Rookies Cup. We supported the Moto2 project through WP and our Moto3 Team Manager Aki Ajo is a good friend of him. We also have a nice connection with his manager Laurent Fellon.”
“It was a group effort to get this done. We had to trust in our capability to build a winning bike and Johann would not come over if he did not see and feel that trust. We feel very responsible now to get that package strong enough so that he can continue on the level where he is. It is our big target.”
“You always want to get the best possible riders on board and it’s obvious with Johann beating the factory guys on satellite machinery and consistently qualifying on the front row means he is a strong fighter with a strong spirit. I’m convinced we can reach the next level with a rider like Johann with us,” added Beirer.
Image source: MotoGP
