Danny Kent decides Moto2 with Leopard

Moto3 title leader Danny Kent will remain with the Kiefer team as both return to the Moto2 World Championship next season.

Kiefer, currently competing under the Leopard Racing banner, won the Moto2 title with Stefan Bradl and Kalex in 2011.

But a miserable 2012 with Mike Di Meglio saw the team step down to Moto3, where they raced Kalex KTM machinery until forming what has turned into a dream partnership with Kent and Honda this season.

Kent holds a 55-point lead with four rounds to go, putting the 21-year-old firmly on course to become the UK's first motorcycle grand prix champion since Barry Sheene in 1977.

The Englishman will ride alongside present Red Bull KTM Moto3 star Miguel Oliveira, announced as moving to Moto2 with the new Leopard project at Misano.

"I'm really happy to sign for Leopard Racing in 2016 for Moto2. We experience a great season this year so I'm really excited to start our challenge in the intermediate category," Kent said. "A massive thank you to all people in the team for believing in me and I'm pretty sure that we also can have a great season in 2016 together."

Kent has less successful Moto2 memories than Kiefer, having returned to Moto3 after a tough 2013 with Tech 3, but will be using the championship-winning Kalex chassis this time around.

The #52 had received a MotoGP offer from Pramac Ducati for next season, the seat subsequently taken by Scott Redding, and was also thought to be mulling premier-class options with Honda.

Leopard Racing Miodrag Kotur said: "We are happy too to continue our collaboration with Danny who has shown not only his potential as a rider but also his loyalty for Leopard Racing for many times. We are also pleased to be able to offer him a great opportunity in Moto2.

"For now we look forward to start our new project with two very talented rider soon after this season is concluded. Our rider line up is complete both in Moto3 and Moto2 for next year. But first we must stay focused on our current exciting 2015 campaign."

Kent is understood to have signed a one-year deal with a further option for 2017.