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Rabat extends Avintia MotoGP deal for two years

The Avintia MotoGP team has announced it has re-signed Tito Rabat for the next two seasons, ending speculation of a potential World Superbike switch for him.

Tito Rabat, Avintia Racing

Tito Rabat, Avintia Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Rabat joined the Avintia team last season, but had his year cut short by a leg injury sustained in a crash during a wet practice session at Silverstone.

The 2014 Moto2 champion's place at the team came was in doubt, as Moto2 frontrunners Alex Marquez, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Remy Gardner were touted to replace him at the customer Ducati squad.

Rabat himself was also linked a switch to WSBK with Kawasaki, but a solid run of races before the summer break elevated him to 19th in the standings and has secured his place at the team.

Avintia have also confirmed it is in negotiations to bring onboard a "major sponsor", and is seeking works machinery from Ducati for the next two seasons.

However, Ducati is already stretched to its limits in supplying the Pramac team with two works bikes for next year, which makes Avintia's ambitions unlikely.

"It is a pleasure to announce that Tito will continue with us for the next two seasons," said team CEO Raul Romero.

"There has been a lot of talk about Tito's future and the future of the team, but with this announcement we made it clear that we are moving forward together and that we will be stronger than ever before.

"The team grew steadily since we arrived in MotoGP and the next step is to get factory machines, the same way as all the other independent teams in the championship.

"We are working on this right now and we are also in negotiations with a big sponsor that perfectly matches the size of the project we are planning for the upcoming seasons."

On Tuesday, the Pons Moto2 team announced it would be continuing with Baldassarri and teammate Augusto Fernandez for 2020, with Marquez now expected to remain with Marc VDS.

Marquez, along with Rabat, had been linked to the seat alongside Jonathan Rea at Kawasaki in WSBK.

However, current rider Leon Haslam's position within the team has looked more assured in recent weeks, with his part in Kawasaki's first Suzuka 8 Hours victory last weekend likely sealing his place for 2020.

Rabat will once again be partnered by Karel Abraham at Avintia next season, who signed a two-year deal with the team last year.

2020 MotoGP grid so far:

Team Riders
Repsol Honda

 Marc Marquez

 Jorge Lorenzo

Monster Yamaha

 Valentino Rossi

 Maverick Vinales

Ducati

 Andrea Dovizioso

 Danilo Petrucci

Suzuki

 Alex Rins

 Joan Mir

Aprilia

 Aleix Espargaro

 Andrea Iannone

KTM

 Pol Espargaro

 Johann Zarco

LCR Honda

 Cal Crutchlow

Japan Takaaki Nakagami

Tech 3 KTM

 Miguel Oliveira

South Africa Brad Binder

Pramac Ducati

 Francesco Bagnaia

 Jack Miller

SIC Yamaha

TBA

TBA

Avintia Ducati

Czech Republic Karel Abraham

 Tito Rabat

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