Raul Fernandez is reportedly on the cusp of being confirmed for a move into the 2022 MotoGP World Championship as part of a fresh Tech 3 KTM line-up.
The Spaniard has emerged as a revelation in the Moto2 World Championship this year, the rookie scoring three wins and seven podiums to be placed second to Red Bull Ajo KTM team-mate Remy Gardner in the standings at the summer break.
With Gardner already confirmed to Tech 3 KTM for 2022, the Austrian firm had originally expected to promote Fernandez alongside him in 2023.
However, his impressive results coupled with growing interest from Yamaha to poach him for a Petronas SRT ride is understood to have prompted KTM to ward off attention with its own MotoGP deal.
As such, according to numerous sources, Fernandez - who would have cost Yamaha €500,000 to prise him out of his KTM deal - will race in MotoGP next season as one of three Moto2 graduates, together with Gardner and Gresini Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio.
The deal is expected to be announced at the upcoming Styrian MotoGP, KTM’s home event at the Red Bull Ring.
What next for Danilo Petrucci?
The deal spells bad news for two-time MotoGP race winner Danilo Petrucci, who will be forced to make way for Fernandez after only a year with the manufacturer.
The Italian joined KTM after being frozen out of Ducati’s MotoGP line-up on the back of a slump that came in the wake of his maiden win during the 2019 Italian MotoGP. Though he added to his victory tally in 2020 during a topsy-turvy French MotoGP, Petrucci’s form hasn’t recovered with the move to KTM.
Even so, he was still expected to get the nod over team-mate Iker Lecuona for 2022 prior to Fernandez becoming a candidate for his seat.
