Moto3: Quartararo confirmed at Leopard

Moto3 rookie star Fabio Quartararo will leave Emilio Alzamora's Estrella Galicia team and switch to Leopard Racing for the next two years.

The French star, who turned 16 after Argentina but was allowed to race the full season due to his status as reigning CEV champion, has taken two podiums and two poles so far in his grand prix career.

However he has also failed to finish four races, leaving him eighth in the championship, and is missing this weekend's Aragon round due to injury.

"I am very proud to join Leopard Racing from 2016," Quartararo said. "Indeed, I am really excited to work again with Christian Lundberg, the engineer with who I won my first FIM CEV Title in 2013.

"For the next two years, my career will be linked with this young structure, based on a solid project for the future. It perfectly matches with my goals. I would like to give a huge 'thanks' to all people who have supported me until now and also to Leopard Racing for trusting in me.

"I will keep giving my best at every turn, lap and race to honour the trust they have bestowed on me. I hope guys, you will enjoy it too."

Leopard is on the verge of winning the Moto3 title with Danny Kent, who is expected to move with the team to Moto2 next year - although the delay in confirming such a deal continues to fuel MotoGP rumours. Leopard have already announced that Miguel Oliveira will ride one of their Kalex Moto2 machines in 2016.

Both Estrella, which won last year's Moto3 title with Alex Marquez, and Leopard currently run Honda machinery in the junior grand prix class.