On Sunday at Valencia, rumour🅰s began circulating that Johann Zarco might become a factory KTM Mot🌺oGP rider in 2019.

Zarco has enjoyed a ste🌳llar rookie season in the premier-class, with three podiums, two pole positions and sixth (as the top satellite rider) in the world championship for Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

Such performances mean the Frenchman would be in contention for a factory Yamaha seat in 2019, should Valentino Rossiꦕ retire or Maverick Vinales part company with the official team.

But perh🀅aps Zarco would not be prepared to wait and see if a factory space develops, instead taki🐠ng his future into his own hands by agreeing to join KTM?

The KTM race team would only call the rumours 'interesting', but Red Bull-backed has today published quo🥀tes from CEO Stefan Pierer, who names Zarco as the 'the only MotoGP rider I'🔥m seriously considering for 2019':

"When I look at the championship table, there's no-💃one I can think of except Zarco,🍷 to be honest.

"He won the Moto2 World Championship for two years with Aki Ajo and won the Red Bull Rookies Cup on aꦕ KTM. He knows KTM.

"If you ask mಌe, I would say: 'This is the only MotoGP rider that I'm seriously considering for 2019'."

Of the team's current line-up, Pierer made no mention of Bradley Smith but 'intends' to keep🔯 Pol Espargaro for 2019, when KTM should also run a satellite team.

Marc VD🐎S is named as one of t𝔉he possible candidates and could be used to give KTM's Moto2 stars Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder a MotoGP debut.

"We now have such ꦕa successful Moto2 team with Oliveira and Binder. These two riders are capable oཧf MotoGP for 2019.

"In the long run, Brad Binder will also become a top MotoGP rider. He is a god on the brakes♑.

"If you win the Moto2 world championship for KTM in 2018, then you're in MotoGP for 2019. But tha🐈t can also be with the satellite team."

However Pierer ruled outဣ a bid f🗹or Honda's reigning four-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez.

"I'm quite honest: Márquez is such an unique talent, in a leaguꦇe of his own. If he wins, it is Márquez. If he loses, my motorcycle is to blame. Moreover, such a signing would be counterproductive to our junior program, which we have built so carefully."