The reigning Moto2 world champion will join WorldSBK after just one season in MotoGP with the Tech 3 KTM team, replacing the outgoing Garrett Gerloff at GRT Yamaha. 

Despite showing flashes of potential in his rookie MotoGP campaign, Gardner and KTM appeared destined for a split as the relationship between the two sides deteriorated in recent months. 

Gardner, who has since been replaced for next season by Pol Espargaro, follows the likes of current WorldSBK championship leader Alvaro Bautista, Iker Lecuona and Loris Baz as riders to make the direct switch from MotoGP to Superbikes in recent years. 

“Remy is an exciting young talent, who boasts an impressive career inside the Grand Prix paddock,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager, Andrea Dosoli.  “We are obviously delighted to have a rider on board who’s not only shown great progression but has experience at the top level of motorcycle racing. 

“We believe that he is the perfect fit for Yamaha’s WorldSBK programme and are keen to see what he can do on one of our R1 WorldSBK machines. 

“We’d also like to thank Garrett Gerloff for his commitment to Yamaha these past three seasons and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Although Gardner looks set to be the only MotoGP rider to switch to WorldSBK for 2023 – earlier this season it appeared as though several others were in contention to do the same – the 2023 grid continues to get stronger with the addition of Gardner. 

The Australian will ride a full factory R1-spec Yamaha, the same machine as reigning Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli.

Gardner is not the only big addition Yamaha could make as Kohta Nozane is also expected to depart the team, with Tarran Mackenzie, Dominique Aegerter and Lorenzo Baldassarri all names that have been highlighted.

There are two realistic options on the table for the reigning Moto2 world champion, with one of those being a return to the intermediate class. 

Gardner has stated his intention is to return to winning ways so based on that thinking a move to Moto2 could be the better one.

However, SPEEDWEEK.com are reporting a deal to bring Gardner to WorldSBK with the GRT Yamaha outfit is ‘close’: “At Magny-Cours, where the Superbike World Championship enters the second half of the season this weekend, SPEEDWEEK.com learned that Gardner is close to signing with Yamaha and will ride for the Giansanti Racing Team (GRT) next year.”

The satellite Yamaha team looks set to have a brand new line-up for 2023 with Garrett Gerloff expected to move to Bonovo Action BMW alongside Loriz Baz, while Kohta Nozane, who has been very underwhelming since leaving the Japanese Superbike Championship, is set for a return to the series. 

Gardner, who is expected to be replaced in MotoGP by Augusto Fernandez, could make a return to the Red Bull KTM Ajo outfit in a bid to fight for a second Moto2 title, but with bridges seemingly burned between the Australian and KTM, that now appears unlikely. 

The other seat at GRT Yamaha could see another former Moto2 rider in Lorenzo Baldassarri move up to the Superbike class, after the Italian has impressed in his rookie WorldSSP campaign. 

Baldassarri is currently in the midst of a tight battle for the championship with Dominque Aegerter – 19 points separate the two riders – while Aegerter is another name hoping to make the move up to WorldSBK in 2023. 

Prior to round seven of the WorldSBK championship at Magny-Cours, reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu also spoke about the possibility of Gardner joining the Yamaha ranks.

The Turkish star said: “Yamaha is not fast like the Ducati but in the corners, it’s a very good bike. I think the Yamaha could be good for him.”

One MotoGP rider who won’t be moving to Superbikes in 2023 is Takaaki Nakagami after the Japanese rider was retained for another season by LCR Honda.