Moto3: Rodrigo, Rossi form new 2019 Gresini line-up

Gabriel Rodrigo will headline an all-new Gresini line-up in next year’s Moto3 World Championship.

With currently title leader Jorge Martin and fellow championship contender Fabio di Giannantonio both moving to Moto2, Gresini has signed Rodrigo – who took his first podium with the RBA team this season – to race alongside rookie Riccardo Rossi.

Rodrigo, who has spent all four grand prix seasons on KTMs, is currently seventh in the world championship.

“I’m over the moon for this new project; this is without a shadow of a doubt a perfect opportunity for my career,” said the Argentine. “To be joining such a prestigious and top-level team like Gresini Racing is truly fantastic.

“I’m extremely grateful to Fausto for believing in me and I’m sure that we will do great things together. I will work and battle hard in order to make 2019 a great year for all of us.”

Rossi’s will move to the world championship after competing in the CIV and CEV series, where he is currently 14th with a best finish of seventh this season. He will use 54 as his racing number, in honour of his first mentor Mattia Pasini.

“I’m really, really happy and I would like to thank Fausto and my family for this great opportunity,” Rossi said. “I would like to be in the top ten in my debut world championship season and I would surely love to become Rookie of the Year.

“I cannot wait to start! I chose 54 as my racing number because Mattia Pasini was my first mentor; I also used this number when I made my CEV debut as wild-card with Team Gresini.”

Gresini will also have a new title sponsor next season with PVC door and window company Kommerling replacing Del Conca.

“I’m really happy with this new line-up: Gabriel will make his debut on a Honda and with the team, but he already has a great amount of experience; we believe he can be among the leading protagonists in this category,” said Fausto Gresini.

“Riccardo is a young Italian rider who will make the step up from the CIV championship to the world stage. This is the continuation of a philosophy that saw riders like Bastinanini, Diggia, Baldassarri, Antonelli and many others following the same path, and we hope it will allow Riccardo to shine, too.

“We are confident Rodrigo has what it takes to race at the front; next year we will also count on Kömmerling as the new title sponsor – in a partnership that is set to last for three years. This is something very important for us, so I would like to welcome everyone on board: we are charged up for 2019.”