Bradley Smith will join the inaugural MotoE grid for 2019 having signed for the Sepang International Circuit-run One Energy Racing team.

Having lost his spot on the MotoGP grid for next season, Smith will join the Aprilia squad as an official test rider with a view to return to full-time racing in the premier class in the future.

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Smith will combine his testing duties by competing in the first-ever MotoE campaign with One Energy Racing run by Johan Stigefelt with backing from Sepang chief Razlan Razali and entrepreneur Matteo Ballarin.

“This is a completely new chapter in the motorcycling world and I am very excited to be a part of MotoE,” Smith said. “One Energy and I have a big task at hand to learn and adapt to this new technology, but I am confident we are ready for the challenge.”

The first FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will have a five-round schedule starting at Jerez in May with a 12-team and 18-rider line-up. Following the Jerez opener, the series will also race at Le Mans, Sachsenring and the Red Bull Ring before concluding at Misano as part of the MotoGP programme.

The first official MotoE tests take place at Jerez at the end of November which could see Smith dovetail his efforts testing for Aprilia at the Spanish circuit.