Tech 3 will continue as the Yamaha satellite team for the next two seasons after the two parties announced an extension of their partnership. The two have collaborated since 2002 with Tech 3 having continued success and the French squad will once again run prototype YZR-M1s for the next two seasons.
Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing, has welcomed the news and hopes to see both parties go from strength to strength.
“I’m really very happy to continue our relationship with Hervé Poncharal and the entire Tech3 Team. We have enjoyed a very successful partnership for more than a decade and have shared many memorable moments over the years. The Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team continues to perform as the top ranking satellite Team in the MotoGP class and their riders are frequently scoring excellent results and providing great excitement for the MotoGP fans. Now that we share Monster Energy as a common sponsor our link is even closer and we are very keen to continue to work together closely for the future to develop young talent which is a very important part of our total Yamaha Factory Racing program.”
With Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro on board for 2014, Tech 3 team manager Hervé Poncharal is looking forward to adding to the successes his team have enjoyed with Yamaha.
“I’m very happy and proud to announce that Tech3 is going to be for the next two years again working and supported by the Yamaha Motor Company. It is an honour and a privilege. We have been working with Yamaha since 1999 in the 250 class with Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano and in 2000 we won the 250 championship. Next season we switched to the premier class and since then we have enjoyed a great collaboration and a great relationship. It is not only a technical partnership but we feel truly part of the Yamaha family. Next year is a new adventure having two young riders; Bradley Smith will be entering his second MotoGP season and will be joined by Pol Espargaró so we are very excited. I believe this is going to be a great set up not only together with Yamaha, but with our sponsors too and that is something we are pretty proud of.”
