Cal Crut🔯chlow has explained why he only extended his Tech 3 contractℱ by a single year, last season.

Specula🔥tion suggests Moto2 star Pol Espargaro is about to sign for Yamaha. And with top satellite rider Crutchlow the only M1 rider without a 2014 contract in place, he would be forced to make way for the Spaniard.

Earlier this week, Crutchlow's Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:commented on the situation, confirming that Espargaro is certain to haꦯve spoken with Yamaha.

Poncharal also stated t🦂hat it had been Crutchlow's decision to sign only a one-year contract,💝 for 2013, after missing out on the factory Ducati ride to team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

"Had [Cal] signed for two years, he would not be in this situation now," Ponchar🤡al added.

On Thursday at Le M🐽ans, Crutchlow explained that the timing of Tech 3's own Yamaha contract - which expires at the end of this year - was behind h🍬is decision.

"Herve꧒ said I had the option to sign a two-year deal with him. But if he hasn't signed a contact with the manufacturer [for 2014] then what do I do?" said Crutchlow. "He can put me in Moto2 for the second year... So I think i🐻t was correct that I only signed for one year."

He added: "There's nothing I know at the minute, we'll concentrate on the job in hand and concentrate race by race until Herve tells ꦫme otherwise."

Poncharal, who says he is discussing at least a two-year contract extension with Yamaha, had also plജayed down the difference between the Tech 3 bikes and factory M1s of Jౠorge Lorenzo and Valencia Rossi.

"My😼 package is good," agreed Crutchlow. "But it's not this year's latest package. My package is last ဣyear's. It's definitely good. I've said that."

Fifth, fourth and fifth in the races so far this season, Crutchlow hopes the coඣoler conditions at Le Mans this weekend will allow the Yamahas🅠 to get back on terms with the factory Hondas in Tech 3's home round.

"Jerez was a tough weekend for Yamaha. I think we need to look at the bike and strategy to improveℱ, but I'm pleased with my bike and the team are working great. This is their home round and a big event.

"🌠It's normally cold here and the Yamaha m✅aybe works well in the cold, as we've seen in tests and the morning sessions before."

The foꦍrmer World Supersport champion also summed up the views of many when asked if a penalty should have been applied to Marc Marquez for the last turn incident with Lorenzo at Jerez.

"We're racing motorcycles, there's 24-25 guys riding around and at some point the main guys are going to hit🅺 each oth🍰er or at least touch," said Crutchlow.

"Was it over the limit? I don't know... But nobody crashed, nobody was hurt. I think it needs tℱo be forgotten and let's carry on racing."

2013 is Crutchl🔯ow's third season at Tech 3. Tech 3 has used Yamaha machinery ever since joining the p꧂remier-class in 2001.

Nicky Hayden's Ducati seat, ✃or Suzuki's planned MotoGP return, are the only factory team rides potentially up for grabs at the ౠend of this year.