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There now seems little doubt that an agreement will be reached for the Sepang International Circuit, backed by Petronas, to set-up a new satellite Yamaha MotoGP team in 2019. It's also clear that Dani Pedrosa and Franco Morbidelli are top of the proposed rider list.

It's no secret that Danilo Petrucci and Pramac team-mate Jack Miller lead the list of riders ready to replace Jorge Lorenzo, if the triple MotoGP champion does not renew his contract with Ducati for 2019.

Pol Espargaro thinks future team-mate Johann Zarco will be 'fast from his first day' on the KTM at November's post-season Valencia test.

Having looked longingly across the KTM garage as test rider Mika Kallio gave the '2019 prototype' it's grand prix debut at Jerez, Pol Espargaro was all smiles after getting back on the machine during the Monday test.

'It makes sense for Tech3 to have also the Moto2 team racing with KTM machinery'

KTM hasn't had much to celebrate on track in MotoGP so far this season, but Pol Espargaro gave the Austrian factory a shot in the arm by setting the third fastest time (+0.043s) in opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

KTM will head for the start of the European season having scored eight points from the opening flyaway rounds of the 2018 MotoGP campaign.

It's been rumoured since last November, but now it sounds like Johann Zarco has finally put pen to paper on a Red Bull KTM MotoGP deal.

Bradley Smith was the only KTM rider to reach the finish of the Qatar season opener, in 18th place and 31.7s from victory. That was eight seconds closer than Smith had been at the same event the previous year, when team-mate Pol Espargaro finished 16th and 33.6s from the front.

Runner-up in Qatar for the past three years, few would be surprised if Andrea Dovizioso is once again fighting for victory in Sunday's 2018 MotoGP season opener. In 2015 Dovizioso was just 0.174s from victory, then +2.019s in 2016 and +0.461s in 2017.

KTM hopes Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith will be able to take the 'next steps' during the factory's second season of MotoGP, which begins in Qatar next weekend.

Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith join KTM management for 2018 team launch in Austria…

Danilo Petrucci "My score out of 10? 8. " "I am really satisfied with the tests."

KTM has officially confirmed that Tech3 will become its satellite MotoGP team from 2019.

- Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez disagree over the future of the MotoGP season structure with the predicted increase in races and reduction in testing ( Speedweek )

Brett Smith has been named as Eurotech Racing’s third and final driver for its 2018 British Touring Car Championship line-up having retained his place after taking over from father Jeff Smith midway through 2017.

Ducati designers are not the only ones targeting an improvement in turning ability for their 2018 MotoGP prototype. KTM has also been working feverishly to raise cornering quality on the new RC16.

Since 2016 and the departure of IodaRacing (Aprilia), the only satellite machines on the MotoGP grid have been provided by Ducati, Honda and Yamaha.

KTM went their own way during an impressive debut MotoGP season, initially entering the RC16 with a unique frame, suspension and engine firing-order compared to the other factories.

Full warm-up results for the eleventh round of the 2017 World Supersport Championship at Jerez, Spain.  

"We need to hang a lot off the bike"

"What do you deem fit or unfit? Where do you set the line?" - Bradley Smith.

Bradley Smith explains his opposition to the introduction of dashboard communication in races; "The race should be natural."

Bradley Smith expresses hope that MotoGP won't return to the Circuit of Catalunya in '18; "This is the only track not reacting to rider/organiser requests."