Image: Supplied.

GasGas Factory Racing will enter the MotoGP World Championship from 2023, signing Pol Espargaro in what will be a rebrand of the current Tech3 KTM Factory Racing operation.

Next year will mark 31-year-old Espargaro’s return to the KTM Group and Tech3 following two challenging years at Repsol Honda, however, this time it will be as part of the iconic Spanish brand.

“GasGas is a winning brand,” stated Pit Beirer, GASGAS Motorsports director. “It has reached an incredible level of performance immediately in disciplines like MXGP, supercross, enduro and rally where we have taken grands prix, main events, world titles and overall winners’ trophies. It’s a relatively new brand for us and we have new goals.

“We hope the fans that follow ‘the red’ will enjoy the story. Thanks to our strong partner, the ASPAR team, in Moto3 and Moto2 we have been able to see the GasGas bikes right at the front of those categories. It would be great to see the same thing eventually in the hardest class of them all.

“I want to thank Herve [Poncheral] and the Tech3 factory racing team for keeping an open mind and really supporting this change to become the GasGas Factory Racing Team. We think it’s exciting and different.”

Hubert Trunkenpolz, member of the executive board, CMO added: “Taking the GasGas name bigger and wider than its roots in trial has been really successful in a number of ways. After seeing what we could achieve in Moto3 and Moto2 the next question was whether we could take GasGas to MotoGP and we’re thrilled that we can make this step.

“It’s a new journey and I know the brand will stand out right away. Importantly, the team, the riders, the management will help GasGas make a splash in the premier class. That’s what we’re hoping for!”

With Espargaro already named to GasGas Factory Racing, the future of Australia’s reigning Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner – and current Tech3 KTM Factory Racing MotoGP rookie – remains yet to be confirmed.