Tech3 And Yamaha Scheduled For Break-Up In 2019
A partnership that has lasted for 20 years is about to end, another reason us cynics don’t believe in this thing they call forever. The Monster Yamaha Tech3 team has announced that they will no longer be a satellite Yamaha team from the year 2019 onwards, just days after they named Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin as their replacement for Jonas Folger.
(Image: Scott Jones / MotoGP)
Reportedly, Tech3 was wooed by another manufacturer, although the racing team’s Chief Herve Poncharal has not named the other party as of yet. It’s probably because a deal has not yet been finalized. And although it’s all conjecture at this point, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes official and the new partner is announced.
Poncharal said, “Tech3 is a small company, which has to think about the future and has to weigh the different options. We’ve been offered a deal, that includes something we’ve been waiting for almost since we started with Tech3 and I couldn’t say no.”
There is still this year’s racing season to consider, however, and both Yamaha and Tech3 has confirmed that they will stay committed to each other.
“The end of such a successful partnership is always a bit sad, as it also marks the end of a long-term relationship,” said President of Yamaha Motor Racing, Kouichi Tsuji. “We are very grateful for Herve’s loyalty and support to the Yamaha brand and for the excellent results obtained throughout that time.
“We will continue to provide our full support to the Tech3 team and their riders throughout the 2018 season, while we simultaneously evaluate our options for an alternative team in the MotoGP World Championship class for 2019 and beyond.”
They first started in 1999 with Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque in 250cc, before switching to the premier class with the same pair in 2001. Now the end to their partnership raises some questions. For Yamaha: Will they continue supporting a satellite team in 2019? For Tech3, who is its new partner?