Interview
MotoGP
Smith "very keen" to be KTM's Zarco replacement
Bradley Smith admits he is “very keen” on the possibility to return to the factory KTM MotoGP outfit for 2020 following Johann Zarco’s decision to leave the team.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Sep 17, 2019, 1:52 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Zarco replaced Smith in the off-season on what was a two-year deal, but has struggled badly to come to grips with the RC16 and decided to vacate the seat for next year.
Impressive Tech 3 KTM rookie Miguel Oliveira has been mooted as a potential replacement, but the Portuguese rider expects to remain part of the satellite team, with team boss Herve Poncharal keen to keep hold of him.
This meant the factory team has been searching for a MotoGP-calibre rider in what is now a narrow pool of free agents, with team manager Mike Leitner confirming to German publication Speedweek that Smith – who currently works for Aprilia in a test role and rides for the SIC-run ONE Energy MotoE team – is among the candidates.
“I know that I'm on the list,” Smith told Motorsport.com. “KTM know that I'm very keen to come back.
“When I left the championship last year, I said that this year would be a year out but my objective was to come back in 2020 and that's not gone away.
“The chance of happening, let's say, two months ago was very, very small. The chance of that happening as of today is a lot bigger.
“I'm still not really focusing on it because it's not a reality, and until it's a reality, it's not something that I try and think about. Unless someone comes and knocks on the door, which they haven't yet, I'm focusing on what I currently have - and what I currently have is MotoE and Aprilia.”
Smith says his two-year Aprilia deal “allows a little bit of wiggle room” for him to return to a full-time MotoGP ride in 2020.
And while he accepts that a KTM reunion would come with some risk, given that he could end up a stopgap for KTM to promote Oliveira or bring in a big-name signing in 2021, Smith believes it would be a risk worth taking.
“I would like to be back inside of MotoGP, not only for one year but for the future,” the Briton explained. “Now, all contracts are up, let's say, towards the end of 2020 - where's the best possible window that you can display your talents? That's on a MotoGP bike.
“I need to be in the mix. Unfortunately doing MotoE next year and winning that championship is not going to have anybody knocking on my door for 2021 [in MotoGP].
“Although it's a one-year deal [with KTM] - the contracts [for 2021 and beyond] are going to be signed after four or five races anyway, so really it's not even a one-year deal, it's a four-five race deal to try and get you in the shopping window for the future.
“It seems crazy to do it, let's say, but I also I do it because I love it and I just play each year on each year. This game's a risky game, we never know how things are going to go, so you do the best you can every single race, every single year, and worry about the future when it comes.”
Bradley Smith, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Misano MotoGP: Quartararo comfortably fastest in FP3
Next article Misano MotoGP: Vinales on pole amid Rossi/Marquez drama
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
Mar 13, 2020
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Mar 12, 2020
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General Mar 11, 2020
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Bradley Smith
Ex-MotoGP rider Smith lands World Supersport ride
World Superbike
World Superbike
Villicum
Oct 13, 2022
Ex-MotoGP rider Smith lands World Supersport ride
Aprilia names three riders for 2021 MotoGP season
MotoGP
MotoGP Nov 23, 2020
Aprilia names three riders for 2021 MotoGP season
Smith a “valid option” for Aprilia MotoGP race seat
MotoGP
MotoGP Nov 20, 2020
Smith a “valid option” for Aprilia MotoGP race seat
More from
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 d
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
6 d
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Latest news
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
3 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Turkish GP
4 h
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe