Official: Syahrin joins Angel Nieto in Moto2 for 2020

Hafizh Syahrin has been confirmed as part of the 2020 Moto2 line-up for the Angel Nieto team after securing the deal during the Thailand round this weekend.

The Malaysian rider has spent the past two seasons in MotoGP with Tech3, initially competing on Yamaha machinery before the French squad’s switch to run the satellite KTM squad, after being called up as a late replacement for Jonas Folger at the start of 2018.

Despite a promising rookie year, Syahrin has struggled to adapt to the KTM and looked set to return to Moto2 after Tech3 signed Brad Binder alongside Miguel Oliveira to complete its 2020 rider line-up.

The 25-year-old will duly return to Moto2, having spent four consecutive seasons competing in the intermediate class between 2014 and 2017, and joins alongside the already-announced Aron Canet who steps up from Moto3 this winter.

“I think that together with the Angel Nieto Team we can do a good job next season,” Syahrin said. “Moto2 is not a new category for me because I already spent several years there, but now I will have a different chassis, a different engine with more power and different tyres.

“I have raced against the majority of riders in this class and I think I can mix it up at the front. I will give my best to be a top five rider, I have faith in the team because I have worked with a few of them before, and I think we can do a good job.”

“I would like to welcome Hafizh Syahrin to our team. It is great news for us to sign such an experienced rider to our new challenge in the Moto2 class,” team boss Jorge Martinez ‘Aspar’ added.

“We are planning a big step forward in 2020, we are raising the bar and I know that both Hafizh and his future teammate Aron Canet will help us reach it. Syahrin is a rider who already has several years of experience in this category and we have confidence in his ability to achieve big things.”

The official confirmation of Syahrin’s move to Angel Nieto in Moto2 will see Jake Dixon head from the Spanish team to join the Petronas Sprinta Racing squad in the intermediate class for 2020.