Is this the end of the line for Hafizh Syahrin in MotoGP?

Bruno Gomes

July 16, 2019

KTM announced Brad Binder to ride alongside Miguel Oliveira in the Tech3 team. Is this the end of the line for Hafizh Syahrin in MotoGP?

Hafizh Syahrin in MotoGP

KTM Racing is still trying to figure out the best way to get results in MotoGP. The Austrian manufacturer is investing a lot in the development of their RC16 prototype, but the results aren’t getting much better. For KTM satellite team Tech3 this investment is much more urgent. They don’t have the necessary parts to keep developing the bikes of Hafizh Syahrin and Miguel Oliveira.

But while KTM is still trying to get the most out of the bike, they already know who they want riding their bikes. KTM and Tech3 announced Brad Binder to ride alongside Miguel Oliveira in the Tech3 team next season. Syahrin is left without a seat. But is this the end of the line for Hafizh Syahrin in MotoGP?

Maybe not!

While it’s true that the young Malaysian rider is struggling this season with KTM, it’s also true that in his rookie season he performed well on the satellite Tech3 Yamaha. Hafizh Syahrin is slowly but steadily getting to grips with the KTM, and his results have improved on the last MotoGP rounds.

While a seat in MotoGP is hard to find, there’s still the chance that Hafizh Syahrin is able to secure a place for next season on one of the satellite teams. For example, on the Petronas Yamaha SRT led by Razlan Razali.

The CEO of Sepang circuit and Petronas Yamaha SRT team manager has said before that he wants to see a Malaysian rider on his team in the future. At the moment the Petronas Yamaha SRT team has Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo under contract. But that might change by the end of the season.

There are many rumors pointing to Valentino Rossi abandoning MotoGP at the end of this season. The factory Yamaha team led by Lin Jarvis, if that happens, is interested in getting Quartararo on a factory YZR-M1 alongside Maverick Viñales. That would leave a free seat on the Petronas Yamaha SRT team.

If Hafizh Syahrin is able to improve on his results with KTM, that would make him a very interesting rider. We know Syahrin is fast on a Yamaha. And the satellite Yamaha team seems to have a great package with both riders getting good results. Will Razlan Razali be able to get Hafizh Syahrin on his team if he gets that chance? We need to wait and see.

There’s also another option for the Malaysian rider. If Hafizh Syahrin doesn’t find a bike to race in MotoGP, he can step down to Moto2. There are a lot of interesting options available in Moto2, starting with the KTM Ajo team, who will see Brad Binder move up to MotoGP. Syahrin knows KTM, and Aki Ajo would surely like a fast and experienced rider like Hafizh Syahring to ride for him in Moto2.