Tech 3: Equal treatment for Smith and Espargaro in 2014

Pol Espargaro will not get any preferential treatment over Bradley Smith at Yamaha in 2014.

The Spanish Moto2 world title contender will replace Cal Crutchlow in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad next year but he will be contracted directly with Yamaha in Japan.

That will not get him a higher spec YZR-M1 1000cc machine than Smith though and his bike won’t be any closer to the factory bikes that will be raced by Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi next season.

Tech 3 team boss Herve Poncharal told MCN: “I don’t know exactly the level of bike we will have but I remember when Colin (Edwards) was with us and Ben (Spies) joined in 2010, he never got any advantage even though he was a factory rider.

Yamaha’s policy out of respect and to support the team is to always give equal treatment. This year it was a different story because Cal has been doing so well and Bradley is only a rookie. I have already discussed the level of equipment with Yamaha in Brno and both riders will have exactly the same spec.”