Pol Espargaro has agreed a new two-year deal with the factory KTM MotoGP team, which will see him continue to race with the Austrian manufacturer through to the end of 2020.
2013 Moto2 world champion Espargaro joined KTM for its debut season last year, following a three-year stint with the Tech3 Yamaha team – who will become a customer KTM squad from 2019.
The Spaniard took his RC16 to 17th in the standings last year, and managed four top 10 finishes with the fledgling outfit. Currently, Espargaro sits 14th in the championship, with a best result of 11th in Argentina.
Hotly tipped to remain with KTM past his current deal, Espargaro admits it was “really easy” to decide re-sign with the team.
“It has been really easy for me to make this decision; I did not think of another possibility for even a minute,” he said.
“I cannot hide how happy I am being involved in this amazing project, despite the challenges and the work we still have to go through.
“I love the KTM philosophy and I want to continue trying to reach our goals. I don’t know when we will be able to do it, but I’m sure that we will arrive.
“I have to thank my whole crew for how they push and how they support me, with the leadership of my crew chief Paul Trevathan, and for sure Mike Leitner and Pit Beirer for how they strive every day.
“And, of course, all the people that work at the races and back at Munderfing. We are a team with an ambitious aim.
“I’m enjoying my best moments in the MotoGP championship, and I’m really happy to know that I’m going to continue here at least until 2020.”
KTM's Motorsport Director Pit Beirer added: “Pol has been such a strong part of our project and gave us a lot of trust and belief as well as the highlights so far with two ninth positions.
“I’m really happy we can continue together for another two years because we can build on the work we have already done and keep progressing with the bike; he should definitely be one of the people that should benefit from everything we have achieve and learned and how we will push on in the future.”
Espargaro looks set to be joined by current Tech3 rider Johann Zarco, who was first linked to the Austrian manufacturer last November.
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