CHIPPENHAM'S Danny Kent says he has the fire back in his belly after securing a ride for the next two Moto2 seasons.

Kent parted ways with Moto2 outfit Kiefer Racing after just the third round of the current season in Austin, having withdrawn from the race through injury.

However, Kent has kept his hand in the sport this season having raced in Moto3 with Ajo KTM in Le Mans, followed by another wildcard appearance in Sachsenring, either side of a return to Moto2 with Interwetten at Mugello.

In Austria last weekend, the 23-year-old was back in the seat in Moto2, stepping in for injured Marcel Schrotter, a race weekend that came to a premature end after a collision with Alex Marquez in free practice at the Red Bull Ring's first corner left the Wiltshire rider unable to compete in the race on Sunday, despite completing qualifying.

Ahead of the weekend, Kent was boosted by the news that he has secured a ride for the 20187 and 2019 seasons with Italian team Speed Up and having changed his training scheme, as well as buying himself a new Motocross and SuperMoto bike to practice with when he is home, he is relishing the chance to get started.

“I’m very pleased and I have to say a big thanks to my management who have been working hard to try and secure me a ride for the next two years,’’ said Kent.

“As you can imagine, it’s not easy with the results I have had in the last two years," he told BT Sport.

“I also want to say a big thank you to Luca and team Speed Up because they have taken a risk by signing me.

“They are a team that can go out and win races.

“With these last few months, with what has happened with my career, me pulling away from a team and not having a job, it’s made me realise what I need to do and it’s opened that fire in my stomach where I want to come back and win.

“I’m going to do absolutely everything I can to get back to the front next year."

With the MotoGP series heading for Silverstone next week, Kent will be keen to ride in front of the home crowd but admits that he will have to play a waiting game to see if he is required to stand in for Schrotter again for the Dynavolt Intact GP Suter squad as they continue to assess the extent of the German’s scaphoid injury.

“Marcel is eager to go out and ride, like any rider is. With the scaphoid, you have to be very careful,” added Kent.

“A few riders have had to end their career by trying to rush back into riding and damaging the scaphoid even more.

“The team are wary of that and they have said there is a good chance of me riding in Silverstone.”