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Redding set to replace Lowes at Aprilia for 2018

British rider Scott Redding is set to replace compatriot Sam Lowes in the Aprilia MotoGP line-up for 2018.

Scott Redding, Pramac Racing

Scott Redding, Pramac Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Scott Redding, Pramac Racing
Scott Redding, Pramac Racing
Scott Redding, Pramac Racing
Sam Lowes, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Sam Lowes, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Sam Lowes, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

Redding's current team Pramac Ducati confirmed on Thursday that it wouldn't be retaining the Brit for a third successive season, as the satellite outfit has instead agreed to field Jack Miller going forward.

This was to leave Redding's MotoGP future up in the air, the former Moto2 runner-up linked with a possible return to the Marc VDS Honda outfit or a switch to World Superbikes.

But neither of those possibilities will come to fruition as Redding will slot in alongside Aleix Espargaro at Aprilia, with the Italian marque having decided to part ways early with Sam Lowes.

 

Lowes' graduation to the premier class of grand prix motorcycle racing had been sealed as early as 2015, and he completed the transition from Moto2 this year after two frontrunning seasons in the intermediate class.

But the Brit has endured a slow start to life in MotoGP, overshadowed by experienced teammate Espargaro and with doubts over whether he would see out his two-year Aprilia deal soon surfacing.

Aprilia was understood to have approached Alvaro Bautista, Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Iannone as potential replacements earlier this year, but all of them turned down a move.

Heading into last weekend's Brno MotoGP round, Aprilia racing manager Romano Albesiano said the team “would like to give him [Lowes] more chance” and reckoned the following two races would be key to deciding the Brit's future.

But Lowes could not add to his two points scored in 2017 in Brno – and it seems now that his Aprilia future has been settled even before the two-race period was up.

2018 MotoGP rider line-up so far:

TeamRiders
Repsol Honda

 Marc Marquez

 Dani Pedrosa

Movistar Yamaha

 Valentino Rossi

 Maverick Vinales

Ducati

 Andrea Dovizioso

 Jorge Lorenzo

Suzuki

 Andrea Iannone

 Alex Rins

Aprilia

 Aleix Espargaro

Scott Redding

KTM

 Pol Espargaro

 Bradley Smith

LCR Honda

 Cal Crutchlow

 Takaaki Nakagami

Marc VDS Honda

 Franco Morbidelli

TBA

Tech 3 Yamaha

 Johann Zarco

 Jonas Folger

Pramac Ducati

 Danilo Petrucci

 Jack Miller

Aspar Ducati

 Alvaro Bautista

TBA

Avintia Ducati

 Tito Rabat

TBA

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