Just days after his split with American Racing Team, Sean Dylan Kelly rode for Forward Racing during the Moto2 and Moto3 Pirelli tire test Monday, September 4 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (a.k.a. Catalunya).
On August 31, ahead of the MotoGP World Championship event at Catalunya, Kelly announced that he and American Racing Team were splitting up due to a disagreement over his recovery from a second arm pump surgery, which he underwent during the mid-season break.
American Racing Team brought in Marcos Ramirez (who started the season with Forward Racing) to race Kelly’s bike at Silverstone and Red Bull Ring, the two rounds immediately after the break, while Kelly continued to recover. But according to Kelly, he was ready to race.
“After respecting the recovery time, I felt and was 100% ready to come back after Silverstone,” Kelly posted on Instagram on August 31, “but I have to be honest and say that this is where the team and I have differing opinions.”
American Racing Team co-owner Eitan Butbul did not respond to a request for comment from Roadracingworld.com prior to post time.
On Sunday, September 3, Kelly said he got a call to come testing Monday with Forward Racing alongside Moto2 veteran Simone Corsi and World Supersport racer Bahattin Sofuoglu.
“I did a solid 40 laps, which I’m super happy about considering I hadn’t been on a Moto2 bike since Assen,” Kelly wrote in a message to Roadracingworld.com. “My arm felt amazing, and I’m really happy about that.”
With regular rider Alex Escrig out due to injury and Ramirez gone to American Racing Team, Forward Racing has two seats to fill. Sofuoglu seems likely to get one of the seats, and Kelly is hoping he will be back on the Forward Racing machine for next weekend’s race at Misano, if not longer.
As for what the Pirelli tires were like, Kelly said all riders at the test were asked not to speak about the Pirellis.
Pirelli is replacing Dunlop as the new official Moto2 and Moto3 control tire supplier starting in 2024.
Update: On September 6, American Racing Team posted the following on its Facebook page:
“Sean Dylan Kelly and the American Racing Team have come to a mutual agreement to part ways for the remainder of 2023.
