Espargaro and Smith highly motivated for final third

As the 2014 MotoGP™ World Championship enters its final third, Monster Yamaha Tech3 team duo Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith head back to Italy this weekend for round 13 at Misano.

Both riders will be aiming to build on their performances so far this year and intend to fight at the front end of the competitive field in the 28-lap race on Sunday.

Espargaro will look to continue his good run of form at the Gran Premio TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini after an impressive sixth place finish at the previous round at Silverstone, as he proceeds to make strides forward in his rookie campaign.

The reigning Moto2™ World Champion is currently seventh in the World Championship standings.

Espargaro commented, “It was encouraging to complete the race in sixth and as the leading satellite bike at Silverstone, but I am determined to finish even closer to the factory riders at Misano. It will be highly competitive as always, but my feeling with the Yamaha has improved considerably and now it’s time to start inching closer to the leading riders as well as overtaking them.”

On the other side of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team garage, Smith will aim to cement himself in the top six on Sunday in what will be his 31st start in the MotoGP class. The 23 year-old British rider will be intending to undertake a rocket start and storm to a strong points scoring result aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1.

Smith stated, “I can’t wait to get going in Misano and I feel supremely confident of clinching a good result here this weekend. It was disappointing to complete my home race the way it did, which prevented any chances of home glory but what’s over is over and I intend to take a firm finish as a late thank you to my fans. I like the Misano circuit a lot, its fun to ride and the weather plus the fans are always great which makes this GP one that we all look forward to.”