Staring out, Redding in at Gresini Honda

The 20-year-old has scored six podiums in Moto2 so far this season, including two race wins, and leading the Moto2 championship heading into his home round at Silverstone. Redding has signed a 2-year deal with Team GO&FUN Gresini Honda, which will commence from 2014.

Redding's fortune will be Bryan Staring's misfortune, as the British youngster will replace the Aussie on the second string Team GO&FUN Gresini Honda. However, Redding's ride will be significantly different from the CRT machine Staring has been on this season.

For 2014, Gresini will provide one of Honda's new 'production racers' - essentially a privateer version of the RC213V prototype, with some of the high-tech features replaced with more rudimentary parts, but more engine changes per season will be permitted. Privateer bikes from Honda and Yamaha will be granted additional rule concessions not extended to the official factory prototypes under the 2014 privateer system which, it's hoped, will provide more competition to the frontrunners than the CRT bikes.

Gresini will replace Staring's current FTR-framed, Honda-engined CRT bike, but not until the arrival of Redding next season. The Aussie has had a frustrating debut season in MotoGP, and given the Redding announcement, his future in the sport after 2013 is unknown.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of MotoGP next season," Redding said at Silverstone. "I'll be racing alongside the best riders in the world, aboard the brand-new Honda production racer, so I know already how steep a learning curve it's going to be. This was why it was so important to me that I made this step with an experienced team, and there are few more experienced in the MotoGP paddock than Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini.

"My focus for now is on winning the Moto2 World Championship for Marc van der Straten, without whose support over the past four years I wouldn't even have been given this opportunity to move up to the premier class."

image: motogp.com