Augusto Fernandez is the final piece of the 2023 MotoGP puzzle after GasGas Tech3 confirmed his promotion on Friday.

The current Moto2 class leader will step up to the premier class for 2023 to partner Pol Espargaro in Herve Poncharal’s newly rebranded KTM satellite team. The soon-to-be 25-year-old from Mallorca has four Grand Prix victories to his name so far this season having moved across to the Austrian manufacturer for 2022.

Seven victories under his belt since his world championship debut in 2017, Fernandez has claimed two top-five finishes in the Moto2 standings in recent years before he moved to Aki Ajo’s all-conquering crew for a championship challenge this time around.

“Wow, this is amazing,” Fernandez said from Aragon of his promotion confirmation. "To be able to make the jump to MotoGP with GasGas. I want to thank everyone in the racing structure around me for all their support since I signed with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team last year.

“I’m really happy. It’s a dream. We still have work to do in Moto2 and I want to go for the title and go to the MotoGP class – and this next challenge - in the best possible way.”

“I have been following Augusto for a few seasons now and we already discussed moving up to the higher class two years ago but he was not ready yet for the big jump,” Poncharal explained on the announcement. “When we met again recently, it appeared very clear that he was prepared to come to MotoG

“I am excited about next season because our garage will have a mix of experience and youth through Pol and Augusto. They are both Spanish and will work in a positive and constructive way and this is what we have been looking for.

“Welcome to MotoGP Augusto, keep calm and focus on your Moto2 championship. We will be waiting for you in our garage on Tuesday following the Valencia GP for your first MotoGP test.”