Moto2 rookie Bradley Smith has impressed Tech 3 so much that they are considering him for a place in their Monster Yamaha MotoGP team next season!
Smith, a former 125cc world championship runner-up, has taken three podiums and one front row start during his first ten races on Tech 3's Moto2 machine.
The 20-year-old, who was as high as third in the championship, has slipped to seventh after DNFs in the last two races - but is still a massive 71 points ahead of team-mate and former 125cc world champion Mike di Meglio, riding in his second Moto2 season.
"I'm being considered by Tech 3 to join their MotoGP team next season," Smith wrote in his latest column for Crash.net.
"Nothing will be finalised at least until after the race in Misano in three weeks' time. I have a lot of thinking to do and decisions to be make.
"I'm 20 years old and to be even considered for the elite class is a great honour. I also have to consider staying in Moto2 for another year and fighting for the Championship."
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 currently runs American Colin Edwards and Briton Cal Crutchlow in MotoGP.
Veteran Edwards is out of contract at the end of this year, but took a podium finish at Silverstone and is the top satellite-bike rider in the championship (ninth).
Rookie Crutchlow has a two-year deal, but a strong start to his grand prix career was interrupted by injury at Silverstone and a spate of crashes since has resulted in some public criticism from Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal.
Yamaha's 2011 WSBK race winner Eugene Laverty and Moto2 title leader Stefan Bradl have also been linked to a Tech 3 MotoGP ride.
2012 will be the first year of the 1000cc engine rules and the new Yamaha made a very strong debut in the hands of Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies during testing at Brno on Monday.
source: crash.net
