Moto2: Mackenzie to replace Kent at Kiefer Racing?

MCN’s sources believe that former Moto3 world champion Danny Kent will be replaced at the Kiefer Racing Moto2 team by reigning British Supersport champion and 2017 runaway leader Tarran Mackenzie.

Kent was replaced for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix by Federico Fuligni, who came home in 24^th on the Suter machine – but the team stressed at the weekend that the Italian is only a temporary replacement until they find someone more permanent to take over from the 2015 Moto3 champion.

And while team boss Stefan Kiefer told media over the weekend that they’re still searching for that replacement, MCN’s sources in both the MotoGP and MCE British Superbike paddocks now believe that the 21-year-old Scottish racer will make the move from the McAMS Yamaha team to Kiefer’s squad in time for next week’s French Grand Prix.

Mackenzie has former experience in the Grand Prix paddock as a Red Bull Rookies Cup racer in 2012 and 2013, in the class where his father and former 500cc podium finisher Niall Mackenzie works as a scout and riders’ coach, but has never raced in any of the world championship classes there despite his experience on smaller capacity machinery.

He currently enjoys a 40-point lead in the 2017 British Supersport series after only three rounds of the series, taking a clean sweep in the championship by winning all six races of the year so far.

Kent left the Kiefer team before the Texan round of the championship last month, citing a lack of confidence in the squad, and will instead ride next week’s French Grand Prix as a wildcard for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team in Moto3.