Pol Espargaro reconfirmed to remain with Monster Yamaha Tech3 for 2016
The Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team is delighted to announce that current rider and 2013 Moto2 World Champion Pol Espargaro will remain with the team for next season aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike. The Spanish star will be contracted to Yamaha once again and will ride in Tech3 colours in what will be his third year of MotoGP. Espargaro, who clinched the leading satellite MotoGP bike title in his first season in the premier class, has produced some notable performances including qualifying in second position at the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team’s home Grand Prix at Le Mans last year. In addition, he has determinedly finished in fifth place twice this season in the fiercely competitive class. Furthermore, the 24 year old further highlighted his potential by storming to the race victory at the legendary Suzuka 8 Hour race as well as setting the pole position time and shattering the lap record. Espargaro will now continue his relentless battle to fight as close as possible to the factory MotoGP bikes for the rest of this year and in 2016.
Pol Espargaro
“I’m happy, because renewing my contract with a factory like Yamaha is always going to be fantastic. Yamaha gave me the opportunity to make my debut in MotoGP and together, I think we had a really good first season. This year we are working hard to improve our results that have not been as strong as we would have liked at this point of the year. However, next season there will be some important changes in the category, such as the alterations to the technical regulations and especially, the changing of the tyre supplier. From my point of view, the less you change with regards to the team and the bike, the easier it will be to adapt to all of this. Despite some tricky moments this year, I know the bike and I know I can continue to work well together with Yamaha and Tech3 in order to achieve our goals. This announcement is also fantastic following the success at Suzuka, where we undertook some really good work together that concluded in the victory which was great for Yamaha and also for my confidence. Therefore, I hope that this result and the renewal of my contract will help me for the nine races that we still have left in 2015, which is the most important thing for me to focus on right now.”
Hervé Poncharal – Team manager :
“I am obviously more than delighted to announce that Pol Espargaro is going to remain with us for a third year in MotoGP. We have had an incredible two seasons together and for me personally, it is like Pol has been here forever and certainly is a big part of our team. We love him and I really hope that next year he can show his true potential and get as close as possible to the top of the MotoGP World. Now, we hope that we can have a strong second half to 2015 in order to prepare for next season, which will be a key year for him and all of us. It goes without saying that we are very happy and proud that Pol will race in the Monster Yamaha Tech3 colours for one more year.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Racing:
Indianapolis (USA), 7th August 2015
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. confirms the extension of its Agreement with MotoGP rider Pol Espargaró for a further 1 year. As a result of this Agreement the 24-year-old will continue his MotoGP career for another year with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1.
Espargaró joined the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team for his rookie season in the premier class in 2014, following his championship victory in the Moto2 class the year before. He immediately adapted to the MotoGP class achieving sixth position in the championship to claim the accolade of ’Rookie of the Year‘ as well as ’Top Satellite MotoGP Rider‘.
Espargarò currently stands 9th in the 2015 championship.
In addition to the MotoGP program Espargarò recently teamed up with teammate Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga to win the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance race and give Yamaha its 5th victory in the history of this prestigious event.
QUOTES
Lin Jarvis
Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
“I am very pleased that Pol will remain with Yamaha for next season. Pol is one of the pool of very talented young riders that will surely have a big future in the MotoGP class in years to come. His 2014 debut season was very strong and he achieved 6th place at the end of the year behind the riders of the Factory Teams. He has faced many difficulties in the first half of 2015 but we are still convinced that he has a big potential and remains one of the most exciting, young talents for the future. With his plans for next season now confirmed he can focus on putting together a strong second half of the 2015 championship with more to come next year.”
Pol Espargarò
MotoGP Rider
“I‘m happy because renewing my contract with a factory like Yamaha is always going to be fantastic. Yamaha gave me the opportunity to make my debut in MotoGP and together, I think we had a really good first season. This year we are working hard to improve our results that have not been as strong as we would have liked at this point of the year. However, next season there will be some important changes in the category, such as the alterations to the technical regulations and especially, the changing of the tyre supplier. From my point of view, the less you change with regards to the team and the bike, the easier it will be to adapt to all of this. Despite some tricky moments this year, I know the bike and I know I can continue to work well together with Yamaha and Tech3 in order to achieve our goals. This announcement is also fantastic following the success at Suzuka, where we undertook some really good work together that concluded in the victory which was great for Yamaha and also for my confidence. Therefore, I hope that this result and the renewal of my contract will help me for the nine races that we still have left in 2015, which is the most important thing for me to focus on right now.”