Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/979046
IN THE WIND P46 OLIVEIRA TO TECH3 KTM K TM continued to hog the headlines in Spain at the Jerez MotoGP, with news that Portu- guese rider Miguel Oliveira will move up to MotoGP next year, as the first rider to sign up for new KTM satellite team Tech3. Johann Zarco will join Pol Espargaro on the factory team, leaving just one seat in the satellite team, which has been promised full factory support and identical machines. "It is very early in the season but I am really happy that KTM have seen enough from this year and last to trust me," said Oliveira, in an official statement. "And believe I deserve this opportunity in MotoGP." The 23-year-old will be the first Portuguese rider in the premier class, and the first to demonstrate KTM's career ladder though the classes. "This is an emotional step for us because it proves all what we have said about building a struc- ture in this paddock and being able to come from the Red Bull Rookies Cup, go through the classes with us and end up in a MotoGP team," KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer said. Team owner Herve Poncharal confirmed that Oliveira will inherit Zarco's full pit crew, led by leg- endary spanner-man and Tech 3 co-founder Guy Coulon. Tech 3 also confirmed that they plan to switch to KTM in Moto2 next year, after nine years of cam- paigning their own Mistral chassis. Michael Scott Oliviera's MotoGP appointment will be the first ever for a Portuguese rider. SOFUOGLU TO HANG UP HIS LEATHERS K enan Sofuoglu will retire after the upcoming Imola WorldSSP round this weekend. The Turkish rider is the most successful in the history of the WorldSSP Championship with five title victories on Honda and Kawasaki machinery, and was on track for a sixth title in 2017 until a huge crash at Magny Cours in France saw him sustain a broken pelvis. Sofuoglu incredibly raced to third at the very next round in Qatar but the title went to Frenchman Lucas Mahias. "In the last couple of months I had a few injures which made my family very afraid, as well as our president," Sofuoglu said, who famously rode his Kawasaki to meet the Turkish President in 2013. "I have decided to retire from racing earlier than I originally thought, but I can't say I am sad because I have already coached and trained a few Turkish riders who will carry the flag for me. I started my racing career 20 years ago, with a goal to race in the world championships, and I have won the world title five times; I am very thankful for that. Many people supported me while winning these titles and I want to thank everyone for that." CN The Turkish legend Kenan Sofuoglu will retire as the country's most successful road racer of all time.