Monster Yamaha Tech3 riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro are aiming to fly high this weekend at the team's hugely anticipated home race, in the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, for round 5 of the 2014 MotoGP World Championship.

After a successful and confidence affirming post Jerez test, Smith and Espargaro will build on their positive results so far this season and put their newly acquired knowledge from the test to use in the 28-lap sprint at the 4185 metre Le Mans circuit, one of the most historically significant motorsport tracks.

Bradley Smith's notable start to the season has seen him flirt with the accolade of the leading satellite bike in the opening races, and he will be looking to break the top five in Le Mans. Whereas rookie Pol Espargaro will continue his rocket start to his MotoGP career and intends to collect his fourth top ten finish, as he consistently battles against established riders in the top half of the field.

Pol Espargaro

“I am looking forward to the Grand Prix de France and doing my best for the Tech3 team in their home country. I won the race here in 2010 in the 125 class, and have always enjoyed the circuit. I am still learning step by step, but am feeling really confident, especially after testing a few things on the bike in the test after the Jerez race. I feel very optimistic in achieving a good result in front of the team's fans and am excited to see what I can do aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 around the famous Le Mans circuit.”

Bradley Smith

"After a quite satisfying start to the year in terms of results, I am fully confident of battling for a positive finish at the team's home Grand Prix. We had a useful post race test in Jerez and found some valuable information, which will aid my riding and setup. I rode to my first ever podium here in the 125 class in 2007, so Le Mans holds some good memories for me and I intend to create some more here this round. It's a really technical and demanding track,however I enjoy a lot riding here and even if there is still a little work to be done, I am certain to put on a good show for the team this weekend.”

Hervé Poncharal

"Firstly, I want to say that I am really looking forward to the teams' home race. I am always really impressed and truly grateful by the home support from the French fans who really get behind our team. The atmosphere is always superb in Le Mans and for me one of the best in Europe, so we hope for a great result from both riders, which would please everyone. For Bradley, we expect he will be able to continue trying his best and battling as the leading satellite bike, and with Pol we hope his great start to his rookie career and his ever-increasing confidence will continue. Of course, no one knows what will occur with the weather, so it is guaranteed to be an interesting weekend."

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