Iker Lecuona is the surpr🍎ise final rider on the 2020 MotoGP grid, having been signed to take over Brad Binder's proposed seat at Tech3, after the South African rookie was 🔯moved to the factory team.

The 𓄧19-year-old Spaniard is currently competing in only his second full season in grand prix, riding for American Racing in Moto2,ཧ where he recently claimed his first dry podium to add to a wet weather rostrum at Valencia 2018. Lecuona is presently eleventh in the world championship.

On Thursday at Phillip Island reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, seven time premier-class title winner Valentino Rossi and current rookie star Fabio Qua⛄rtararo were asked if t🦄hey had any advice for Lecuona.

"Advice? Difficult…" began Marquez. "I mean of course Iker is a very young rider, his experience is not a lot in the wܫorld championship but if KTM already give him the opportunity it's because they see something and it will♛ be interesting to see his progression.

"🐈Herve's team also has really good experience and he will have time and no pressure. So just enjoy it and try to learn abou𝄹t all the rides in MotoGP."

Rossi, preparing for a 🍷record 400th grand prix star♊t this weekend, added:

"At the꧑ end in MotoGP you have a big difference but it's also the same; one motorcycle, the same track. So try to understand the bike.

"For sure with our bikes the limit is higher so the bike gives you more grip, so you can push more. But take his time and see… Maybe Quartararo is better to give adv🀅ice to the rookie!"

Quartararo has been the surprise of the season, claiming six pꦰodiums already this season for the satellite Petronas Yamaha team while fighting Marquez for victory at Misano and Buriram.

20-year-old Frenchman warned Lecuona that his first MotoGP laps will be something 🍌of a shock, but echoed the advice of taking his time to learn the more powerful bike, Michelin tyres and advanced electronics.

"I don’t 𓃲have a lot of experience in MotoGP but of course the first tests when you are on the bike ar꧒e really strange. You don’t even control the bike, the bike controls you!" Quartararo said.

"This is really not easy in the first tests because you don’t know how to ride this bike in the first laps. So just take his time. I think it's not easy to ride a MotoGP bike ⛎fast, but if next year he goes step-by-step he can go fast."

Lecuona meanwhile admitted it was a dre🌺am come true to join 🌳his heroes next season, having expected to ride in Moto2 for the KTM Ajo team.

"Thanks to KTM and Poncharal for this opportunity," 🐲he said. "For me it's ♛crazy to be here with Marc or Valentino. When I was a kid I saw everybody on TV! It's a nice feeling to be with all these amazing riders on the track next year."

Lecuona will be team-mate to Miguel Oliveira, who admitted he was u🅘nhappy at KTM's decision to promote rookie Binder straight into the factory team.