Bradley Smith (left) confers...
Bradley Smith (left) confers with Tech 3 team owner Herve Poncharal (right) at the Indianpolis MotoGP.
One of the more sought-after riders in Moto2, young Brit Bradley Smith of the Tech 3 Moto2 team, has been signed to a long-term deal with Tech 3 that will see him on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP squad in 2013 and 2014. Refraining from the opportunity to move up directly to MotoGP next year, Smith has chosen to remain in the Moto2 class in order to make a final assault on that class’ title before making the jump to the premier category.
Smith is another product of Spain’s MotoGP Academy (current Moto2 title contender Marc Marquez is also an alumni, and points leader Stefan Bradl also spent time there) run by Alberto Puig, Dani Pedrosa’s mentor. Making his 125cc GP World Championship debut in 2008, Smith finished second overall in 2009, winning three races before moving to the Moto2 class this year. He currently sits sixth in points, with three podium finishes this year including a second place at his home round at Silverstone.
Smith’s eschewing the MotoGP move next year still leaves the seat that Colin Edwards will be vacating open. This allows Yamaha to have that seat available for either Marquez or Bradl if one decides to sign with them (since all rookie MotoGP riders must start off on a satellite team), as well as several established MotoGP riders who may be on the market looking for rides in 2012 (i.e., Andrea Dovisioso or Alvaro Bautista).
“I am thrilled to have signed a three-year deal with the Tech 3 Racing Team and I am looking forward to continuing the excellent relationship we've developed in 2011,” says Smith in the Tech 3 team press release. “I have a fantastic relationship with Herve, my crew chief Tom Jojic and all my crew, who all have an amazing passion for racing. It is that dedication and desire to succeed that convinced me to join Tech 3 in 2011, so to be staying until the end of 2014 is the perfect scenario for me. There was never any doubt in my mind that Tech 3 would be the best option to develop my career. It has been flattering to have attracted interest from so many top teams in Moto2, but the opportunity to move to MotoGP in 2013 was simply too good for me to turn down. To think I'll be riding a Yamaha 1000cc MotoGP bike just over a year from now is hard to believe. I've worked so hard for many years to earn the chance to be given an opportunity like this, and now it has come I intend to grab it with both hands. Tech 3 gave me the chance to move to MotoGP in 2012 and it was an honor to be even considered at this stage of my career. The decision to stay in Moto2 was one of the hardest of my life but I believe that together, we can be fighting at the front from the start of next season and pushing to challenge for the Championship.”