Monster Yamaha Tech3 boss𝄹 Herve Poncharal has confirmed that Hafizh Syahrin is 'fa💫vourite' to complete the team's 2019 KTM MotoGP line-up.

Earlier in the day, Sepang CEO Razlan Razali said that the Malaysian rookie will remain on the grid next year, but not as part of a🔯 rumoured new satellite Yamaha team backed by Petronas.

Instead, Syahrin - parachuted into Tech3 after Jonas Folger's last-min🔜ute withdraw - looks on course to make the switch to KTM machinery with the French team.

"I have had quite a lot of iꦍnterest in the second spot. Red Bull KTM now have Pol, Johann and Miguel Oliveira c🌼onfirmed [for 2019], so we decided to wait a bit more to decide the fourth guy," said Poncharal, speaking in his office on Friday evening at Mugello.

"But I have always said I would like to try to retain Hafizh Syahrin. So he is of cou𝓰rse on the list and I would say at the moment he is the favourite."

Syahrin is currently just three points from reigning Moto2 champion Franco Morbidelli in the battle to be MotoGP Rookie of🦄 the Ye▨ar.

"I'm a sentimental guy and we were in big trouble when Jonas decided to stop and Hafizh saved us," Poncharal said. "Not only did we find a decent rider, who did much better than everyone expected, but als🌱o he is such a nice kid.

"He cꦅomes in the team and it's like it's been his family forever. He's so funny. He's humble, well educated. Honestly I love him and the whole team loves him. He fits really well in t🥃he team.

"A lot of people thought, 'Herve is taking Hafizh because he is from South East🌟 Asia and because Petronas would follow'. Which is not true.

"I took him because he is good on the bike, fast, doesn't do many 💎mistakes - only one with the hard tyre on the warm-up in Texas. In Jerez he was injured in a bicycle crash and Le Mans he was back to full fitness and again best rookie. So I'm happy."

Poncharal admitted that, on paper, Syahrin would have been expe🧜cted to be part of a new Petronas-backed MotoGP team.

"We've been hearing about the possibility of Petronas joining MotoGP for many years. It's been like a dream but until now never really came true. It loo♍ks like now it should be happeni💝ng from 2019.

"So then you are thinking, 'first ever Malaysian rider in the MotoGP class, who was with Petronas until last♐ year. First ever Malay༒sian rider scoring points...'

"There is a good story there and I know that everyone t🌳hinks, no matter what Petronas is♎ going to do, Syahrin is going to be part of that project.

"But no. Why? I don't know."

Should Sepang conclude a deal for a place on the 2019 MotoGP gri💧d, with Yamaha machinery, Lorenzo and Fran🌳co Morbidelli are tipped as the likely riders.

"Lorenzo [with Petronas], I think might happen. It depends what he's♌ as🦄king for…"