ANDOVER’S British Motostar Moto3 Champion Jake Archer is moving up to the Moto2 class in 2019, writes JEREMY RYAN.

Having been runner-up in the Moto3 category for two years, Archer took the championship title in comfortable fashion and with a round to spare this season.

The 18-year-old Andover ace will move to Moto2 with Team Kovara Projects.

This is a new team in the Moto2 class, but Ryan Saxelby, who prepared the bikes for Jake Archer this year, will continue to work with him.

Kovara Projects, a leading specialist commercial roofing and cladding contractor, have previously supported Archer and are now his title sponsor.

Archer said: “The move to Moto2 is a natural progression. We’ve achieved what we set out to do in Moto3. We will still be working with Ryan Saxelby whose bikes have already impressed in the class. I want to say a massive thanks to Trevor and Clare Jepson of City Lifting who have supported me over the last three years.

“Without their financial support we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we did. I can’t thank Peter Lucey of Kovara enough either for his help over the years and giving me this opportunity in 2019.”

Peter Lucey (Managing Director Kovara Projects) said: ” We’ve known Jake Archer for three seasons now and have supported him along with City Lifting during that time.

“Having seen the rider Jake has grown into we wanted to fully support him in his move to the Moto2 category. That’s why we have formed and fully backed Team Kovara Projects. This is an exciting challenge for everyone involved and we will spend the winter ensuring we are ready for the start of the new season.”