Yamaha backs Pol Espargaro for MotoGP success

Yamaha has backed Pol Espargaro to emerge as a top MotoGP rider in the future after signing the Spaniard on a two-year factory contract.

Espargaro is currently locked in a battle for the Moto2 world title with Briton Scott Redding and he will join Bradley Smith in Yamaha’s satellite squad next season, which is run by Herve Poncharal’s Monster-backed Tech 3 squad.

Factory Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis said Espargaro has the potential to challenge Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and former Moto2 for Marc Marquez in the future and he told MCN: “Espargaro has good potential for the future and in my opinion he will be one of the riders in the zone. How good he will be we will only see when he moves up but he has the potential to be a top MotoGP rider. The reason we looked at Pol was because last year in Moto2 there were really only two guys that were very strong.

There was Marc and Pol who was the only one giving him a hard time.  There is no doubt in my mind that Pol will be one of the competitive riders. Look at Bradley, he had a difficult season in Moto2 last year and now Bradley is there and a valid MotoGP rider. “

Espargaro was the overwhelming favourite to win this year’s Moto2 world title but he currently trails British rider Redding by 38-points after the rising Gloucestershire rider won his home race at Silverstone last weekend.