When KTM announced its departure from Moto2 at the end of this season, Iker Lecuona's hopes of ridi♌ng a factory Austrian machine in 2020 looked to be over.

The Spaniard had only recently signed to replace Brad Binder (joining the Tech3 MoไtoGP team) at Red Bull Ajo next year, but now looked set to race wওhichever alternative Moto2 chassis (probably Kalex) Aki Ajo's team switches to.

However, reports that not only will Lecuona be on a factory KTM next season, it will b🅺e in MotꦕoGP.

The 19-year-old ღis said to have been chosen to ride al🍃ongside Pol Espargaro on the bike vacated by Johann Zarco.

After 🐬offering the seat to Jack Miller and showing interest in the likes of Remy Gardner, KTM has spoken of having good ride✃rs already under contract to replace Zarco.

That naturally put the spotlight on its MotoGP test riders Dani Pedrosa (who declined) and Mika Kallio - who has been hired to finish the season in pla🌞ce of the Frenchman, who will make his LCR𒅌 Honda debut in Australia this weekend - plus Tech3 riders Miguel Oliveira and Binder.

However Lecuona, who despite his young age is competing in his third full Moto2 sea༒son, is also on the KTM books via the Ajo deal.

The teenager took his first grand prix podium in the wet at Valencia last year and꧂ stood on the rostrum in the dry in Thailand this year, where he battled the highly-rated Binder to the flag despite using the customer American Racin🍰g-run KTM.

Lecuona, who al▨so impressed the factory when called-up to deputise for the injured Jorge Martin at last year's Valencia Moto2 test, is currently eleventh in the world championship.

Kallio, named by KTM as the candidate with the 'highest chance' of replacing Zarco in 2020 pending his𒉰 results, scored his first points of the year with 14th place in Sunday's Japanese ಌMotoGP.

KTM is only thought to be looking for a one-year deal for Zarco's replacement since all the main MotoGP r🌸iders are out of contract in 2021.

Should Lecuona be confirmed in MotoGP, Ajo will need꧒ to find a new rider to join M🅷artin, who took the first podium of his rookie Moto2 season in Motegi.