Tech3 team owner and Manager Herve Poncharal has admitted that current rider Hafizh Syahrin is the favourite to partner Miguel Oliveira in the satellite Tech3 KTM team next year.

The Malaysian rookie was a late call-up to replace the injured Jonas Folger and despite the lack of testing or experience, the 24-year-old has impressed and is currently just three points behind 2017 Moto2 World Champion and fellow rookie Franco Morbidelli.

In spite of paddock rumours that Petronas may be on the verge of taking over the satellite Yamaha bikes, the Frenchman has confirmed he would like to keep hold of his rider as he makes the move from Yamaha to KTM.

“I have had quite a lot of interest in the second spot,” Poncharal told our colleagues at crash.net. “Red Bull KTM now have Pol, Johann and Miguel Oliveira confirmed, so we decided to wait a bit more to decide the fourth guy.

“But I have always said I would like to try to retain Hafizh Syahrin. So he is of course on the list and I would say at the moment he is the favourite.”

When asked what it was about Syahrin that pushed him over other potential candidates for the second Tech3 KTM, Poncharal pointed towards consistency and results rather than potential sponsors or his passport.

“I took him because he is good on the bike, fast, doesn’t make many mistakes,” he said.

“There was only one with the hard tyre on the warm-up in Texas. In Jerez he was injured in a bicycle crash and Le Mans he was back to full fitness and again best rookie. So I’m happy.”