German Jonas Folger has announced he will not be Yamaha's European MotoGP test rider in future.

The youngster, who previously raced for Tech3 before illness meant he was unable to continue the 2017 season, was appointed as tester last year but had unexpectedly been ditched.

“This bad news has come as a surprise for me. I had the verbal agreement that Yamaha wants to continue with me and even expand this project," he said.

"We were already talking about what the test plan and other missions might look like. “But then suddenly came the rejection, although I was promised that I should soon receive the contract.

But it was decided that their test programme should again be carried out exclusively by Japanese riders. So I was stopped for a long time.”

Folger's options are now limited as almost all Moto2 rides are now taken. He has been linked with a move to WorldSBK by Kiefer Racing.

Yamaha has not announced who will replace Folger as Johann Zarco's deal with Honda for the end of this year has shut that particular door.