Britain’s Bradley Smith has comfirmed he will not be with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team in 2017 and will move to another squad in the round of contract negotations that have more than likely already started.

Smith finished top satellite rider last season but has been with Herve Poncharal’s outfit for five years at the end of 2016. The Frenchman likes to nurture young riders and Smith is now heading towards his 26th birthday.

“This is the first time I’ve started the season in a situation where it looks almost certain I will be switching teams next year. I‘ve been with the Monster Yamaha team for five years, two in Moto2 and three in MotoGP and after this year, my fourth with them in MotoGP it looks like it’s time to move on for both parties,” said Smith.

“I’ve had an absolutely brilliant time with them but team boss Herve Poncharal has made it clear he will not be renewing next year, however well I do. Tech 3 is used by Yamaha to bring on young talent and I’m going to be 26 by the end of this season and much as I’d like to be, I’m no longer considered a fast young talent.

“It’s a scary situation, but it’s the way of the MotoGP paddock and gives me even more motivation, not that I needed it. It’s such an exciting situation because of my performance last season. I’m in a very strong position, which gives me so much confidence and self-belief. I slowly figured out what I needed to ride fast, although this year a few spanners have been thrown into the works with the new tyres and electronics.”

Get the new issue of the BSN app, out now, for our free, 27-page MotoGP season preview. Away to your app store now, Dougal.