Yamaha and Tech 3 have announced that 2018 will be their last season as partners in the MotoGP World Championship, after 20 mutually successful years. Yamaha have accepted Tech 3’s decision and will provide full support to the team up to and including the last race of the 2018 season.
Tech 3 will continue participating in the MotoGP and Moto2 World Championships and will announce plans for 2019 and beyond at a later date. Yamaha are in the process of deciding whether they will run a satellite team for 2019 and, if so, what form that collaboration will take.
“Very recently we were informed by Hervé Poncharal, the owner of Tech3, that he has decided not to extend his contract with Yamaha to lease YZR-M1 bikes,” begins Kouichi Tsuji, General Manager Motorsports Development Division, YMC and President of YMR.
“After discussions with Hervé it was clear that he has chosen to align with a new partner for the future and therefore, regretfully, we were obliged to respect and accept his decision. The end of such a successful partnership is always a bit sad, as it also marks the end of a long-term relationship. We are very grateful for Hervé’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.” He concluded
Team Manager Herve Poncharal echoes many of those sentiments, and adds: “To summarize 20 years of an incredible partnership between Tech3 and Yamaha in a few words is a very difficult mission.”
“Since I first met Mr. Iio in 1998, where he gave me the opportunity to join Yamaha Motor Corporation, it has been an extraordinary journey together. All I remember are fantastic memories, great results, an awesome atmosphere and astonishing feelings we shared with the Yamaha family, which will always be in my mind and in my heart.”
“Clearly, to end that kind of partnership is a big decision for me. All I want to say is more than a huge thank you to Yamaha, to Mr. Tsuji, Mr. Tsuya, Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Nakajima, plus all the guys that have been supporting and helping us.
“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. But obviously, we are the Monster Yamaha Team until the last lap of the Valencia GP 2018.”
“Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin will be fighting for top positions and without a doubt, Yamaha can count on us to be a loyal performant partner. One more time a huge thank you for Yamaha’s support. I hope they can carry on and have the success they deserve and eventually find a partner to replace Tech3.”
source: motogp.com
