Moto2: Kent parts ways with Kiefer Racing

Former Moto3 world champion Danny Kent has been left out of a ride in the Moto2 class, after walking away from the Kiefer Racing squad that took him to title glory before Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Initially claiming a back injury as he bought himself time to discuss his future with the squad, Kent then announced that he would be parting ways with them – a decision that he told MCN afterwards was a consequence of poor result after poor result since he stepped up into the middleweight class with the German team a season ago.

“It’s been a long fifteen months with hardly any decent results to show. Last year me and Miguel Olivera were very pretty similar in results, and this year he’s able to fight at the top – and I don’t believe this is only down to him. 

“But after every practice session we made many changes with the bike and the same problems just kept occurring. I feel I’ve been pushing hard but I’m still over two seconds a lap off and fighting with the bike to be in twentieth.”

However, Kent has enjoyed an abysmal record almost since half way through his title-winning year – when he had to go right to the line to lift the crown at Valencia after dominating the first half of the season. That was again reinforced at the weekend when teammate Dominique Aegerter took his Suter to an impressive fifth place in only the bike’s third race outing.

And with that in mind, Kent is well aware that he’s taken a huge risk by walking away from the team – one that could well mean that his time in Grand Prix racing is at an end if he can’t quickly repair a reputation as damaged goods.

“I know the risks and the repercussions from this decision are big but I honestly think it’s the best thing I can do for me. It was breaking me as a person and rider, and I honestly think if the right opportunity comes up I can be fast in Moto2. I hope to find a competitive ride and be at the front and enjoy racing again because I haven’t been enjoying it for a long time.”