Cal Crutchlow has ex♑plained why he only extended hi🍷s Tech 3 contract by a single year, last season.

Speculation suggests Moto2 star Pol 𓆉Espargaro is about to sign for Yamꩵaha. 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 Espargaꦫro is certain to have spoken with Yamaha.

Poncharal also stated that it had been𓂃 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," Ponch🅠aral added.

On Thursday at Le Mans, Crutchlow expꦓlained that the timing of Tech 3's own Yamaha contract - which expires a♍t the end of this year - was behind his decision.

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

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

Poncharal, who says he is discussing at least a two-year cont♈ract extension with Yamaha, had als𝓀o played down the difference between the Tech 3 bikes and factory M1s of Jorge Lorenzo and Valencia Rossi.

"My package is good," agreed Crutchlow. "But it's not this year's latest package. My package is last year'𓃲s. It's defini✃tely good. I've said that."

Fift🔴h, fourth and fifth in the races so far this season, Crutchlow hopes the cooler conditions at Le Mans this weeken💮d 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 improve, 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 maybe works⛦ well in the cold, as we've seen in tests and the morning sessions before."

The former World Superspo𓆏rt 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 other or at least touch," said Crutꦅchlow.

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

2013 is Crutchlow's third season at Tech 3. Tech 3 has used Yamaha machinery ever since joining the premier-class in 2001ဣ.

Nicky Hayden's Ducati seat, or Suzuki's planned MotoGP return, are the on🌠ly factory team rides potentially up for grabs at the end of this year.