Elena Rosell to become first female Moto2 rider

Elena Rosell will become the first woman to compete at world championship grand prix level for almost eight years after being snapped up as the replacement for Julian Simon at Aspar Suter for the Dutch TT.

The first woman to race in Moto2, 25-year-old Rosell arrives in the series having plied her trade in the Spanish-based CEV Buckler Championship where she is currently classified 11th in the overall Stock Extreme standings aboard a Kawasaki.

According to Spanish publication Marca, she will take the place of injured front runner Simon, who remains absent from Moto2 competition after breaking his tibia and fibula in an accident during the Catalan Grand Prix.

Rosell's arrival will make her the first female rider to compete at world championship level since Katja Poensgen in 2003.