MotoGP: Espargaró set to join Smith at KTM?

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaró looks set to joins his current teammate Bradley Smith next year at KTM’s new MotoGP operation, with MCN’s sources in the paddock believing that the Catalan will announce his new deal this weekend at his home race in Barcelona.

The move makes sense for the younger of the brothers as he looks to replicate big brother Aleix’s factory successes on the Suzuki machine. Hoping to be in live for a shot at the factory Yamaha seat, Pol’s expected move comes in the wake of that avenue being closed with the signing of Maverick Viñales to join Valentino Rossi.

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It also makes sense in the context of factory Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis’ comments recently that the Tech 3 seat would remain open to Espargaró until he decided he didn’t want it or signed a new deal with the firm.

The move may also help steer Moto2 racer Alex Rins towards Tech 3 and Yamaha. Keen to secure a factory ride for his first year up, Rins may well be forced to settle for a factory Yamaha contract at their junior squad in anticipation of a move to the factory team in 2019.