Alex Marquez sticks with Marc VDS in Moto2

Alex Marquez will contest a fifth consecutive Moto2 world championship campaign in 2019 after re-signing with Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS.

Marquez, who currently sits third in the Moto2 championship, had been linked with a potential move up to MotoGP with the Belgian squad and Avintia Ducati, but will stick with the team in Moto2 ahead of next season's switch to Triumph engines.

The 22-year-old claimed the Moto3 world title in 2014 and the Spanish Moto3 title in 2012 both with Marc VDS and is thrilled to stay at the team for 2019.

“I’m very happy to be able to announce my renewal with Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS,” Marquez said. “I would like to thank the team for their confidence in me for a project that has us all very excited, ahead of a year in which there will be many regulation changes and novelties.

“This will help me to continue growing as a rider and prepare me for one of my objectives, which is to move up to MotoGP. I have great motivation to continue being part of this project, and we will give our all to win the Moto2 World Championship.”

Team boss Marc Van der Straten says he sees Marquez as the team's ‘spearhead’ and is confident the Spanish rider can challenge for the Moto2 world title both this season and next year, while he is also delighted to secure a renewed partnership with title sponsors Estrella Galicia 0,0.

“I am very satisfied to make official the agreement reached with Alex Marquez for him to continue with the team next season,” Van der Straten said. “We want him to continue to spearhead our project, and to be a rider with whom we can fight for the Moto2 World Championship – as we are already doing this season.

“Alex has shown that he has the potential and talent necessary to be up at the front, to fight to win races and get on the podium. This renewal gives us continuity for a project that, along with Estrella Galicia 0,0, provides our riders with the possibility of carrying out their sporting career in a family environment, as well as the team being professional and competitive at the highest level.”

Marquez’s current Moto2 team-mate Joan Mir will step up to MotoGP with the factory Suzuki squad in 2019, leaving Marc VDS with one spot to fill in its intermediate class line-up.

Meanwhile, the Marc VDS MotoGP team looks set to close - as effectively confirmed by Marquez's decision to stay in Moto2.

Current Marc VDS MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli is set to leave the team and join the new Sepang International Circuit-run satellite Petronas Yamaha squad, with team-mate Thomas Luthi linked to a return to Moto2.