Danny Kent returning to Moto2 with Leopard Racing next year
Sunday 27 September 2015 11:20, UK
Moto3 series leader Danny Kent will return to Moto2 next season after agreeing a new deal with the Leopard Racing team.
Kent is 55 points clear in the race for the Moto3 title with four races remaining and will step up a class after his hopes of a move straight into MotoGP were dashed.
The 21-year-old from Chippenham was believed to be in line to ride for Pramac Ducati, but their open seat was eventually taken by fellow Briton Scott Redding.
Kent will also have a new team-mate next season, with Leopard Racing confirming that Red Bull KTM Moto3 rider Miguel Oliveira had signed up for 2016.
"I'm really happy to sign for Leopard Racing in 2016 for Moto2," said Kent, whose previous season in Moto2 - 2013 with Tech 3 - ended with him finishing a disappointing 22nd.
"We experienced a great season this year so I'm really excited to start our challenge in the intermediate category.
"A massive thank you to all people in the team for believing in me and I'm pretty sure that we also can have a great season in 2016 together."
Kent's race at the Aragon GP on Sunday proved to be a dramatic one, although he will hope not too costly in his bid to win the world title.
He was in position to extend his lead over Enea Bastianini when the Italian fell on the final lap, but Kent also came off his bike on the very last corner with a podium finish in sight. Oliveira avoided all the carnage to claim victory.
