The AGR Moto2 team has parted ways with current rider Yonny Hernandez and will replace him with American Joe Roberts from the Czech Grand Prix.
After a tough year with the Aspar Ducati outfit in MotoGP in 2016 – ending the season 22nd overall with 20 points – Hernandez returned to the Moto2 World Championship with the AGR squad.
The Colombian has found the transition from MotoGP to Moto2 machinery challenging, and has only scored points on three occasions from the first nine races, with a best finish of ninth at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“Of course, we want to thanks Yonny Hernandez for the job he has done during the first half of the year, and we wish him the best of luck in his future projects,” AGR team boss Iker Burutxaga said.
AGR will replace Hernandez with 19-year-old Joe Roberts, who currently contests the CEV Repsol Moto2 series with the team.
2017 marks Roberts’ first year racing in Europe having previously contested the MotoAmerica Supersport class, finishing the last two seasons 12th and sixth in the standings.
Despite issues with injury, Roberts has adapted quickly to the European Moto2 class and sits fifth in the championship after two podium finishes.
Happy to have been given the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream, Roberts is under no illusions that the task ahead will be an easy one.
“I was surprised to get this opportunity so soon,” he said.
“It’s been my dream, ever since I was a little kid to race in the World Championship and I was hoping for next year to get an opportunity, so for me to get it this year is amazing.
“My expectations are basically to keep learning as much as possible and hopefully make some big steps riding with these amazing riders, some of the best riders in the world.
“If I can come in and learn some more and keep improving my riding, that would be amazing.
“From the start of this year till now I’ve learnt so much about this bike and the team seems quite happy with the way I’m progressing.
“The best thing is to keep that going and we’ll see what happens. Thanks you to everyone in the team for giving me this amazing opportunity.
“It’s a dream come true.”
Roberts will be the first American to race in any class of the world championship since Danny Eslick contested the 2016 French Moto2 Grand Prix for the JP Moto Malaysia team.
