Fenati secures Moto2 graduation with Snipers team

Italian rider Fenati has been a regular in Moto3 since 2012, having scored seven grand prix wins in that time and secured a best finish of fourth in the championship in 2015.

Last year, his third season with Valentino Rossi's Sky Racing VR46 squad was cut short after a dispute with the team that led to him being dropped at the Red Bull Ring.

He was picked up the Snipers outfit for 2017, and lies second in the points behind Joan Mir with a victory and four second places in the first nine races of the campaign.

"Everything started as a joke but then we convinced ourselves, and thanks to Mr. Marinelli we succeeded in making this fantastic idea reality," said Fenati of his step up to Moto2.

"We are all very involved in this new project as we are a big family and I am really happy for this. I am looking forward to starting this new adventure."

While the bike the Snipers squad will use in the intermediate class next year is not finalised, a team statement said it "should be" using Kalex.

Technical chief Mirko Cecchini added: “We are really honoured to have the opportunity to work with Romano another year.

"Passing to Moto2 is an important step both for the team and the rider and doing it together [with Fenati] makes me feel proud.

"We have always thought that it was right to try the Moto2 when we could be competitive and we are sure that with Romano it will be like that".