Source: Supplied.

Yamaha and Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider Pol Espargaro will go their separate ways at the close of the 2016 MotoGP season, it’s been announced.

Espargaro, 24, joined the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team in 2014 following his championship victory in the Moto2 class the year before.

The Spaniard adapted to the YZR-M1 quickly, claiming the ‘rookie of the year’ as well as ‘top satellite MotoGP rider’ with a sixth place overall finish.

Espargarò followed up this successful year by taking ninth place in the final rankings in the 2015 season, with the highlight of finishing as the highest satellite team rider in Assen and Valencia with two fifth places.

In addition to the MotoGP program, Espargaro also secured the win for Yamaha at the 2015 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race where he teamed up with Tech3 teammate Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

Espargaro will team up once again this year with Katsuyuki Nakasuga and new rider Alex Lowes in an attempt to secure back-to-back wins for the Yamaha Factory Team.

So far this season Espargaro holds seventh-place in the 2016 MotoGP World Championship standings and has been the leading independent team rider since the start of the 2016 campaign.

While it’s rumoured Espargaro will join current teammate Bradley Smith at KTM, his 2017 Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team replacement will be announced in due course.