Moto2: American Joe Roberts to replace Yonny Hernandez at AGR

Former MotoAmerica 600 Superstock champion Joe Roberts has been selected to replace departing former MotoGP rider Yonny Hernandez in the AGR Moto2 World Championship team beginning with the next race at Brno, Czech Republic on August 6. Roberts—no relation to Kenny Roberts, in case you're wondering—from Glendale, California, has been competing in the FIM/CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship for the Argiñano & Ginés Racing Team alongside fellow American Jayson Uribe, with Roberts finishing on the podium twice out of seven races in the extremely competitive series. With Hernandez and AGR agreeing to go their separate ways after a disappointing first half of the Moto2 World Championship season, Roberts was called up to take the spot for the remainder of the 2017 Moto2 World Championship.

Needless to say, Roberts has seized the opportunity to hopefully take his next step on his planned path to MotoGP (check out our interview/profile of him back in 2016 here). "I was surprised to get this opportunity so soon," said Roberts. "It's been my dream, ever since I was a little kid to race in the World Championship and I was hoping for next year to get an opportunity, so for me to get it this year is amazing. My expectations are basically to keep learning as much as possible and hopefully make some big steps riding with these phenomenal riders, some of the best riders in the world. If I can come in and learn some more and keep improving, that would be excellent. From the start of this year till now I've learned so much about this bike and the team seems quite happy with the way I'm progressing. The best thing is to keep that going and we'll see what happens. Thank you to everyone in the team for giving me this amazing opportunity. It's a dream come true."

Iker Burutxaga, Team Manager for the Moto2 Argiñano & Ginés Racing Team, was elated to have Roberts join the team. "After his performances in the first few races of the FIM/CEV Repsol, we considered that he was knocking on the Championship’s door," said Burutxaga of the 20-year-old American. "We think he’s a rider that has a high enough level to be among the best and that the earlier he takes that step, will be better for all. We are looking forward to seeing him compete with the best riders in the class." Burutxaga knows that Roberts has a big job ahead of him, but he's confident he'll be up to the task. "He will obviously need an adaptation period, and he’ll need to work very hard at the beginning, but we trust his talent and we believe he’ll be able to give us some good results.”

With Roberts' promotion to the Moto2 World Championship, the USA is finally represented again in the World Motorcycle Grand Prix Championships since the late, great Nicky Hayden's final MotoGP season in 2015. And Roberts' participation in the Moto2 World Championship doesn't mean he'll be giving up his FIM CEV Repsol Moto2 commitments; the American will be pulling double duty in both championships since there are no conflicting dates.