Image: Supplied.

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced 2019 Moto2 world champion Alex Marquez will graduate to premier class for the 2020 season at Repsol Honda.

The 23-year-old Spaniard will ride in place of the now-retired Jorge Lorenzo, joining older brother and reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez in the official HRC team.

Double world champion Alex, who was initially signed to remain with Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS in Moto2 next year, has signed a one-year deal with the factory Honda squad.

It’s expected that he will immediately start preparing for his 2020 season, piloting the 2019-spec RC213V at this week’s test in Valencia. It was revealed ahead of last weekend’s MotoGP finale that Lorenzo would retire from professional racing after a highly-successful career.