Last January we reported the rumor that Moto2 rider Pol Espargaro was on Yamaha’s radar for a switch to MotoGP in 2014.
Yamaha Tech3’s team owner Herve Poncharal had admitted that he had talked to Espargaro last year during the Indianapolis GP on his own behalf, but nothing came from it.
The authoritive MotoMatters.
com during the Austin GP also asked whether Espargaro was on his radar, but the French manager said, “I will never sign a contract with Pol Espargaro” but he did admit that Yamaha has the contract right to place a rider of their choice in his team.
However the rumors of a Yamaha/Espargaro pairing has picked up speed and confirmed by Cal Crutchlow, who currently rides for Tech3.
The British who is currently doing a bang up job on the satellite M1 told BBC Sport that he could be forced to leave the team to make way for the Moto2 rider as he was informed by boss Herve Poncharal.
“He told me that Yamaha are potentially going to sign Pol and [Tech 3] will have to take him for the first year,” Crutchlow said.
“The rumour is that he’s going to be getting a factory bike and doing a two-year deal with the Yamaha factory.
”Crutchlow’s contract at Tech 3 expires at the end of this season, and his complaints of an inferior spec bike and previous comments regarding Ducati stringing him along last year during contract time, while they talked and then decided on Andrea Dovizioso, may have cut some bridges, but with Audi now firmly in command, and a large part of the past management now gone, the British rider could be on Ducati next season, replacing either Nicky Hayden in the factory team or one of the two riders in Pramac or riding for Suzuki who should be back on the grid in 2014 and run by Davide Brivio.
Giving the boot to Crutchlow we believe would be a huge mistake by Yamaha and if it should happen hopefully Dorna will step in and be able to help the popular and outspoken British rider, who is not only an exciting, fast and an aggressive rider, but also a breathe of fresh air in the otherwise sanitized and controlled atmosphere of the paddock.
Dorna also owes it to British fans after they assigned a five-year exclusive contract to BT Sport which will be pay-to-view, which has resulted in angry protests by fans.
The same thing happened when Dorna assigned MotoGP broadcasting rights to Sky Italy for MotoGP in 2014, and taking it away from free-to-air Mediaset.