Pol Espargaro to Yamaha now official

Pol Espargao will join the now vacant seat at Tech3 next season, after signing a two year contract with Yamaha.

With confirmation of Cal Crutchlow’s move to Ducati, Yamaha surprised nobody by annoucing the signing of Yamaha after the Spaniard signed a two year contract with the Japanese brand, with the first season on Tech3.

Espargaro’s move to Yamaha was widely rumoured rumoured, and whilst Herve Poncharal didn’t want to loose Crutchlow, he was ultimately overruled by the powers above, with the Moto2 title challenger coming in.

A Yamaha press release read:

“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd is delighted to be able to announce that it has concluded a two-year agreement with current Spanish Moto2 rider Pol Espargaro.”

“As a result of this contract the 22-year-old will make his MotoGP debut in 2014 with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team and will ride the Yamaha YZR-M1.

“Pol Espargaro is enjoying his third season as a key protagonist in the Moto2 Class and is currently lying second in the Championship standings.”

With the statement coming from Yamaha, and not Tech3, and only confirmation he will be with Tech3 in 2014 it has sparked rumours that Espargaro could be either riding with factory support, or eventually replace Valentino Rossi when his contract expires in 2014.