Cal Crutchlow has been impressive in 2013 but looks likely to lose his place at Tech 3. Image: MotoGP.com.

A disgruntled Cal Crutchlow has been told first-hand of plans to sign Moto2 frontrunner Pol Espargaro to the Monster Tech 3 team, effectively leaving him without a seat.

Team owner Herve Poncharal has outlined the Yamaha factory’s plans to lock in the impressive Spaniard as he looks to make the move to MotoGP.

“He told me that Yamaha are potentially going to sign Pol and [Tech 3] will have to take him for the first year,” revealed Crutchlow in an interview with BBC Sport.

“The rumour is that he’s going to be getting a factory bike and doing a two-year deal with the Yamaha factory.”

Paddock reports suggest that Yamaha has already begun negotiations with Espargaro, having him sign a letter of intent in similar fashion to their move which secured them Jorge Lorenzo in 2008.

Crutchlow, who has been a consistent frontrunner in 2013 and far and away the leading privateer, only has a one-year contract with the manufacturer, whereas factory riders Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, are locked in to multi-year deals.

Crutchlow’s teammate, Bradley Smith, also has a current contract which will see him into the future at Tech 3.

“Everybody thinks the next guy up is going to be as good as [Marc] Marquez, but Marquez is like Valentino was 15 years ago; he is unbelievable,” continued Crutchlow. “Pol is not going to beat Marquez.

“At the end of the day I don’t know why the decision has been made, but that’s Yamaha and Lin Jarvis’ decision and I’ll leave it up to them.”

With the move having been tabled some time ago, Crutchlow could be the leading candidate to pilot the Suzuki MotoGP machine when it returns in 2014.

“I don’t want to ride for a non-factory team anyway,” were his parting words on the subject of his future in MotoGP.

Crutchlow’s decision to move his own base to Italy, where the Suzuki team’s headquarters would be located, adds weight to the move.