Jorge Navarro will move up to the Moto2 class next season after signing for the Federal Oil Gresini squad. The Spaniard, who currently lies second in the Moto3 world championship, will replace Sam Lowes who graduates to MotoGP with the Gresini-run Aprilia factory squad.
Navarro has enjoyed his best season to date, claiming his maiden victory at the Catalunya Grand Prix, and trails Brad Binder by 61 points in the race for the title. Despite the possibility of starting next year as a title favourite in the lightweight class, Navarro feels the time is right to move up.
“I’m very happy and excited to have the opportunity to step up to the intermediate class of the World Championship with the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2. It’s an exciting challenge that I face with great enthusiasm. I would like to thank Federal Oil and Fausto Gresini for the trust they put in me, and for giving value to the work I’m currently doing in Moto3. I’m convinced that starting from next year we will do great things together!”
Navarro has signed a two-year deal and Team Manager Fausto Gresini believes he has secured the services of one of the brightest talents in the paddock.
“It’s a great pleasure and pride to be able to continue the important project in the Moto2 World Championship together with Federal Oil, a valuable partner since 2012. Our efforts in recent years led us to become top players in an extremely fought category, as evidenced by the results we are getting with Sam Lowes, currently fighting for the World Title. In 2017 we are determined to remain at the top and consequently, with Lowes who will step up to MotoGP, the choice fell on Jorge Navarro, undoubtedly one of the most interesting young talents of Moto3, with whom we signed a 2-year contract. Navarro proved to learn quickly, becoming a ‘big’ of the smaller displacement: we are convinced that he can fast adapt also to Moto2, a Championship where the level is currently very high. It will be an exciting challenge and we look forward to start working with Jorge, aware that we can offer to him a top team and a strong technical package, thanks to the support of Federal Oil. For this reason we are already organizing some important testing sessions to prepare his debut in the best possible way”.
