West, MZ Racing given Moto2 place

MZ Racing and Anthony West have been given a place on the inaugural Moto2 World Championship grid, following the withdraw of Kino Racing.

Kino Racing has been forced to surrender its place after failing to secure the funding needed to run Argentinean Fabricio Perren.

Australian wet-weather master West has taken part in both official Moto2 tests to date with the MZ Racing chassis, finishing 18th (Valencia) and then 20th (Jerez).

West is a former 250GP and World Supersport winner who raced in 500cc during 2001 (Honda) and then MotoGP for most of 2007 and all of 2008 (Kawasaki).

Last year West switched back to WSS with Stiggy Honda, claiming three podiums during a season shortened by the team's financial problems. West had been holding fifth in the championship before being forced to skip the final round, which dropped him to seventh.

West's inclusion brings the number of Moto2 riders with at least one MotoGP start under their belt to eight - the others being Toni Elias, Alex de Angelis, Niccolo Canepa, Roberto Rolfo, Gabor Talmacsi, Yuki Takahashi and Fonsi Nieto.

The next official Moto2 test will be held at Jerez from March 27-29.