Another U.S. rider moves to world stage as SDK gets called up to Moto2

Kelly will join five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion Cameron Beaubier at American Racing for 2022, the team confirmed in a news release today, as Kelly is about to complete his MotoAmerica career with two Supersport races at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. Kelly wrapped up the MotoAmerica championship last weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Putting together a lineup of two U.S. riders fulfills the goal of the American Racing Team, led by team principal Eitan Bitbul and Racing Director John Hopkins. Bitbul praised Kelly as a talented rider with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.

"For me, to have an all-American team is something special and the entire team will do the best to bring the best results and to represent the U.S. at its best," Bitbul said.

At 19, Kelly has emerged as one of the most promising young riders in the U.S. national championship. Riding for the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team, he wrapped up the Supersport championship this year in his third season, after losing out in 2020 in a fierce, season-long, one-on-one battle with Richie Escalante. Kelly has one previous taste of Moto2, as a fill-in rider at the final round in 2019.

"Making it to the world championship is a dream come true for my family and I and I’m really excited to get back into MotoGP paddock," Kelly said. "It makes me proud that this will make us a complete American Team, teaming up alongside Beaubier."

Assuming Joe Roberts returns next year to the Italtrans team he's currently racing for, that means three U.S. riders will compete next year in Moto2, one of the most fiercely contested series anywhere as riders are on similar machines, all using Triumph 765 three-cylinder engines.

While U.S. racers once dominated world championship grand prix racing, as recently as 2017 there were no U.S. riders in any of the three classes in the MotoGP series. Concerted efforts by the American Racing Team, by MotoAmerica and others have changed that, and Kelly will become the third former MotoAmerica champion racing in a world championship, along with his 2022 teammate Beaubier and another former MotoAmerica Supersport champion, Garrett Gerloff, now racing in World Superbike.