KUALA LUMPUR: SIC Racing Team rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah could make a jump to MotoGP as he has been short-listed as a replacement for Jonas Folger at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 this season.
Both Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and Tech 3 have confirmed that Hafizh, who spent the last four years as a full season rider in Moto2, is being considered for the seat.
German Folger has been diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, a genetic illness, which has forced him to sit out the entire 2018 season.
SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali, in various statements over the past few months, has made it clear that he is grooming Hafizh to make the step up to the premier class in 2019.
Whether they are willing to let Hafizh go, having just signed him from Petronas Raceline at the end of last year, is unclear.
Razlan was reluctant to delve into detail.
"Yes they (Tech 3) have been in contact with us, that is all I can comment for now," said Razlan on Thursday.
In an interview with www.Motocyclenews.com (MCN) on Wednesday, Tech 3 team principle Herve Poncharal confirmed their interest in Hafizh but made it clear that it is far from a done deal.
Poncharal said the team need to consider the views of their manufacturer Yamaha as well as their various sponsors, who had been expecting to see Folger ride alongside 2017 MotoGP Rookie of the Year Johann Zarco.
Folger had missed the final four races last season due to the illness. He was expected to make a full recovery by the end of the year but he announced recently that he would not be competing this season.