Moto3 points leader Marco Bezzecchi and race winner Philipp Oettl will join the Tech3 KTM Moto2 team next season, it has been confirmed.
Oettl, son of former 125cc race winner Peter Oettl, has raced full-time in Moto3 since 2013, and took his maiden victory at the Spanish Grand Prix this season.
Bezzecchi made several wildcard appearances in Moto3 before making his full-time bow last year, and managed a first podium finish in a wet Japanese Grand Prix for the CIP Mahindra squad, before moving to Prustel GP and taking his debut win in Argentina.
Following the absence of Jorge Martin through injury at Brno, sixth for Bezzecchi put him into the standings lead by just three points.
With Herve Poncheral's Tech3 team switching to KTM frames in Moto2 to coincide with its KTM tie-up in MotoGP next year, current KTM competitors Oettl and Bezzecchi were seen as the ideal candidates to join the French squad.
Confirming the news in a KTM press conference at the Red Bull Ring, Poncheral said: “I'm extremely happy to announce the Red Bull KTM Tech3 Moto3 team.
“It's been a while since we've been working on the line-up and today it's a great pleasure for me to announce that Marco Bezzecchi, currently leading the Moto3 championship, together with Philipp Oettl, Spanish GP winner in Jerez, will join our team.
“I have always been trying to find young talents and help them to grow and clearly both, Marco and Philipp have everything it takes to become top riders in he Moto2 class – of course, with a bit of understanding of this new category.
“For me this is the perfect moment to do it because as everybody knows, we will have a new engine from Triumph and a new ECU from Magneti Marelli, therefore it's an ideal time for Marco and Philipp to join the championship.”
Moto3 championship favourite Martin will also join the KTM fold in Moto2 next year, joining Aki Ajo's squad alongside 2015 introductory class champion Brad Binder.
In MotoGP, current Moto2 points leader Miguel Oliveira will step up with Tech3, joining Hafizh Syahrin at the French squad.
Tech3 currently fields Remy Gardner and former Red Bull Rookies Cup champion Bo Bendsneyder, though both have endured a tough season, with rookie Bendsneyder failing to score points and Gardner missing three races after breaking both his legs in a training incident.
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