Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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IN THE WIND P40 Kelly To Make Moto2 Debut A merican Sean Dylan Kelly is set to make his Moto2 World Championship debut at the 2019 season finale in Valencia, Spain, November 15-17. Team Hammer has granted the 17-year-old rising star—who is currently in the midst of a two- year (2019-2020) contract to race in MotoAmerica—permission to compete that weekend with American Racing Team KTM. He'll ride a Triumph-powered KTM Moto2 race bike in place of Spaniard Iker Lecuona, who is racing in MotoGP at Valencia prior to moving up to the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP squad in 2020. "First of all, this is the start of a dream for me. The next week and a half is something my family, the circle around me, and I have long hoped for," said Kelly, known as SDK in the MotoAmerica pad- dock. "I'm super excited. We've come a long way and honestly I'm still letting the moment sink in before getting down to business." For Kelly, the exciting opportu- nity marks a temporary return to the MotoGP paddock and a fitting way to celebrate his breakout rookie season in the MotoAmer- ica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing series. Armed with an M4 Ecstar Suzuki GSX-R600 in 2019, Kelly finished this year's MotoAmerica Supersport Championship ranked fourth in points. The Hollywood, Florida, resident did so on the strength of seven podium fin- ishes, including a thrilling double- victory weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Prior to the start of the Mo- toAmerica season, Kelly played a starring role in the 78th Daytona 200 in his Team Hammer debut, where he became the youngest pole winner in the prestigious event's nearly eight-decade history and backed that achieve- ment up with a runner-up result in the arduous race. "I've been waiting for this mo- ment my whole career and I have a good idea of what I am getting into," said Kelly. "Last year about this time, I was able to test a Moto2 bike so I've done quite a bit of 'studying' for my next oppor- tunity and I think I am prepared. Going from a single bike test to a World Championship Moto2 race is a big deal. There's no pressure on me, I am just going to learn and enjoy the competition and do my best. I'm really grateful to Eitan with American Racing Team KTM for believing in me, to give me this chance. Also, thanks to John and Chris Ulrich of Team Hammer for not just having me race on their team, but for also helping me along the path." CN American Sean Dylan Kelly will make his Moto2 GP debut this week in Spain.