IN
THE
WIND
P44
Fernandez To VDS
M
oto2 sensation Augusto Fernandez will take
the Marc VDS ride vacated by Alex Marquez
for the 2020 season.
The 22-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a breakout
2019, taking three victories for the Sito Pons-run
HP40 team, and will partner with British veteran
Sam Lowes in the Belgian-based Marc VDS team
on Kalex machinery.
"It is a dream come true to continue growing
in a great team like this," Fernandez said. "My
objective is to give the maximum and to work very
hard to fight for victories and have the opportunity to fight for the world championship."
Fernandez's appointment comes at the expense of Johann Zarco, who was rumored
to be heading back to Moto2 after a dismal year with KTM in MotoGP. It now appears
Zarco will be riding for the Reale Avintia Ducati squad in place of Karel Abraham. CN
Augusto Fernandez
will head to the
Marc VDS squad
for next season in
Moto2.
Zarco To Avintia Ducati
T
he merry-go-round that is Johann Zarco's Mo-
toGP career looks to have taken another turn,
as the Frenchman is rumored to have signed for
the Real Avintia Ducati squad for 2020 in place of
departing Czech rider, Karel Abraham.
Zarco's 2019 season was nothing short of di-
sastrous, leaving his two-year contract with KTM
halfway through the first season after he failed to
adapt his high-corner-speed style to the point-
and-squirt technique required by the KTM RC16.
He'd previously scored podiums for Yamaha in a
two-year stint, and filled in for the injured Takaaki
Nakagami on the Idemitstu LCR Honda RC213V
for the final three rounds of the 2019 season,
scoring a best result of 13th at the Australian
MotoGP.
Abraham's departure was a surprise, as he
took to Instagram to say, "You might know al-
ready, but I am not going to compete in MotoGP
in 2020. I am very sad and disappointed, but
need to move on and focus on what's coming
next. It was a beautiful 15 years in world cham-
pionship, we had some great times and great
memories will remain in my heart."
The official word from Avintia Ducati on Zarco's
appointment is expected later this week. CN
If Johann Zarco
signs with
Avintia, he'll be
the only rider
to have ridden
the Yamaha,
KTM, Honda and
Ducati MotoGP
machinery.
