Kornfeil withdraws from 2020 Moto3 campaign, announces retirement
Jakub Kornfeil has announced he will retire from racing with immediate effect after struggling for financial backing for the 2020 Moto3 world championship.
The Czech Republic rider, who had already signed a deal with BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race for 2020, made the official call on his future on his Instagram account which had been triggered by insufficient financial support with under two months until the start of the season.
“At the end of the season, in Valencia, I never imagined that this would be the last race of my career in the MotoGP championship,” Kornfeil wrote.
“I still have a valid contract with the team, but I was forced to make this very important decision for my life. I should have started the season on a different budget than what I thought, what I hoped to have, and I wouldn’t even have the certainty of reaching the race at Mugello.
“I still feel like a winner, even if I never won the title. I’ve always tried to do my best both on and off the track.”
Kornfeil made his world championship debut in the 125cc class back in 2009 with Loncin Racing which followed an entire decade in the lightweight class competing on Aprilia, FTR Honda, KTM, Honda and KTM machinery across his career. The Czech Republic rider notched up five podiums and one pole position in that time, but is probably most remembered for his incredible jump when he used Enea Bastianini’s bike as a ramp during the 2018 French Moto3 race.
With the 26-year-old leaving the sport, it opens up a spot at the Mugen Race team alongside Makar Yurchenko for this season.
Tom Booth-Amos, who is currently without a 2020 ride, has already been approached as a potential replacement but has confirmed in Twitter he doesn’t “have the budget to buy the ‘job’”.
With Kornfeil joining fellow Czech Republic rider Karel Abraham out of action for 2020 following his axing at Avintia Ducati in MotoGP, it leaves just Filip Salac to represent his home nation in the paddock.
