Image: Supplied.

The future of MotoGP rookie Remy Gardner has been confirmed for 2023 as the Australian will compete in the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) with GYTR GRT Yamaha.

Gardner made the step up to MotoGP this season with Tech3 KTM Factory Racing after winning the Moto2 world title last year.

It has been evident across recent rounds that he would not continue with Herve Poncharal’s team, making a WorldSBK switch the likely option with no apparent opportunity to remain in MotoGP next year. The agreement was made between Gardner and Yamaha Motor Europe this week to see the 24-year-old make his debut in the WorldSBK paddock.

“Remy is an exciting young talent, who boasts an impressive career inside the Grand Prix paddock,” Yamaha Motor Europe road racing manager Andrea Dosoli explained. “We are obviously delighted to have a rider on board who’s not only shown great progression but has experience at the top level of motorcycle racing.

“We believe that he is the perfect fit for Yamaha’s WorldSBK programme and are keen to see what he can do on one of our R1 WorldSBK machines. We’d also like to thank Garrett Gerloff for his commitment to Yamaha these past three seasons and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Next year’s plans for Gerloff have also been confirmed, with the American to join the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, however, the second seat inside the GRT outfit alongside Gardner is still unannounced.

Reigning BSB champion Tarran Mackenzie, MotoAmerica title-holder Jake Gagne and World Supersport (WorldSSP) champion Dominique Aegerter have all been suggested as potential candidates. Aegerter seems the most likely, as Dosoli revealed the team is aiming to promote the best WorldSSP talent in the remaining seat.

Six races remain in Gardner’s current MotoGP stint, with round 15 at Aragon the next on the calendar which commences this Friday.