Tech 3 eyes Espargaro-Folger line-up for 2017

Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal has hinted that a line-up of Pol Espargaro and Jonas Folger would be his preferred option for his MotoGP team next season.

The satellite Yamaha operation is in need of at least one new rider for next season after Bradley Smith confirmed his switch to the new-for-2017 KTM works outfit at Qatar.

Espargaro, meanwhile, had been linked with a move to the Pons squad if it was granted the 24th and final grid slot for next year, before it was confirmed this week that no extra teams would be admitted.

The Spaniard, who has raced with Tech 3 ever since his graduation to the premier class in 2014, could therefore be poised to stay put, and Poncharal says he would be happy to keep him on board.

As for Espargaro’s teammate, Poncharal named 22-year-old German Folger as the only rider he felt had done enough in Moto2 to warrant a promotion who would definitely be available in 2017.

“For me, it would be ideal to replace Smith with a young rider from Moto2 and keep Pol for a fourth year,” Poncharal told Motorsport.com.

“What he has done this year is better than what he did last year – he's more consistent, he's getting stronger and he's almost always the best independent rider.

“He worked well in the Jerez test, on that Monday, notably focusing on handling the bike with worn out tyres.”

Lowes, Zarco, Rins out of reach

Asked who he was interested in among this year’s Moto2 field, Poncharal added: “There are not many of them, but there are three or four riders who stand out.

“There's Sam Lowes, who's signed with Aprilia for 2017 and 2018; there's Johann Zarco, but it seems pretty sure he's signed a pre-contract with Suzuki; there's Alex Rins, who's a talented young rider, but who says for now that riding for a non-works team is of no interest; the fourth one is Jonas Folger.”

Folger, a four-time Grand Prix winner, was linked to a move to Tech 3 in the summer of 2014, before Smith earned a new contract with the French team.

The German, who is riding for Intact GP for his third season in Moto2, sits fifth in the points standings after finishing second last time out at Jerez.

Interview by Lena Buffa
Translation by Benjamin Vinel