Marquez sticks with Marc VDS in Moto2

Alex Marquez will remain in the Moto2 world championship with Marc VDS for 2020 after re-signing for the team.

Marquez currently leads the Moto2 standings following his second place at last weekend’s Austrian round, holding a 43-point advantage over nearest rival Thomas Luthi, and has re-signed at the Belgian squad for 2020 in the intermediate class.

The deal ends speculation around the 23-year-old linking him with a move up to MotoGP next season.

Marquez had reportedly been of interest for the Sepang-run Petronas Sprinta Racing squad, as it looks to expand to a two-ride effort in Moto2 next year, before a speculated Yamaha ‘veto’ quelled the move.

Marquez’s name had also been connected to the recently-vacated Red Bull KTM spot following Johann Zarco’s surprise early split with the Austrian manufacturer at the end of 2019.

But the Spanish rider has opted to contest his sixth consecutive Moto2 campaign next season, having stepped up to the class in 2015 as Moto3 world champion, and remains a constant presence in the Marc VDS squad since moving up.

Marquez has secured five victories in Moto2 along with two additional rostrums this season.

With Marc VDS keeping Marquez for 2020, attention will turn to its second spot in Moto2.

Sam Lowes has strongly been linked to the team after the British rider confirmed to Crash.net he would be leaving the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 squad at the end of the season but says he already has a deal for 2020 but “can’t say where”.

Alex Márquez renews with Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS for 2020! We are happy and proud to be able to share another season with this rider to achieve the most ambitious goals in the Moto2 class!#Moto2 #Teameg00marcvds #morethanateam pic.twitter.com/2DIt8t1XxI

— Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS (@TeamEG00MarcVDS) August 13, 2019