The battle over Steiner's MotoGP team
While most attention in the 2027 MotoGP silly season has so far been focused on riders not teams, there's one key part of the puzzle that's still to be decided and that will have more significant knock on effects than most rider moves: what machinery the new Guenther Steiner-led Tech3 team will be using as MotoGP prepares to enter a new rules era.
A long-time satellite Yamaha stalwart until 2019, Tech3 has since then been a key part of KTM's growth strategy in the premier class.
It's essentially run as an extension of KTM's factory operation right down to almost identical liveries, with Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales (when fit) currently enjoying almost the same resources as factory duo Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta.
But, with KTM's well-publicised financial woes and with Honda looking to aggressively expand its MotoGP operation to six bikes as its tries to regain the top spot in the series, it's been something of an open secret in recent weeks that both Tech3 and Ducati squad Gresini Racing have been in Honda's crosshairs.
Honda has reportedly now been firmly rejected by Gresini, thanks to a big-money counter-offer from Ducati (even amid the likely loss of current star Fermin Aldeguer to fellow Ducati team VR46), and so Tech3 has become its main focus, for reasons that make complete sense to the series' formerly dominant manufacturer.
Keen not only to expand its data collection in the new 850cc era but also to retain the services of valued development rider Luca Marini (set to be squeezed out of the factory team by the arrival of 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo and Moto2 star David Alonso), expanding its numbers by bringing Tech3 into the fold makes a lot of sense for Honda.
It also, you would imagine, aligns nicely with Tech3's new owners and their vision for the team's future. Now led by a venture capital fund and by former Formula 1 team principal superstar Steiner, a deal with Honda would likely fast-track the team to the MotoGP success that has been lacking for Tech3 during what has been a rather tumultuous time for KTM.
Though Tech3 won two races with Miguel Oliveira in its second KTM season in 2020, it's had a more difficult time since with just six podiums - five of those achieved by Pedro Acosta before he was quickly promoted to the factory team.
And while things aren't much rosier at Honda, given the performance of the RC213V in recent years, it nonetheless managed to rack up satellite wins more recently than Tech3 thanks to both Johann Zarco and Alex Rins at LCR. Plus, Honda now has a bike that looks to have clearly overtaken KTM's RC16 in terms of development.
Even more alluring, though, is the promise of what should be called the RC214V in 2027. Honda is spending considerable resources on ensuring a return to competitiveness next year and, while a Tech3 Honda team would likely be designed to share development work with LCR, the prospect of instant results is likely an enticing part of Honda's offer.
Yet according to The Race's sources in the paddock, it seems like a counter-offer from KTM may well have succeeded in ensuring that Tech3 stays put and that KTM keeps four bikes on the grid next year.
KTM is finally starting to come out of the financial doldrums of the past few years thanks to new Indian ownership and is as aware as Honda that the more bikes, the better, when it comes to developing into the new era. Initial reports suggest that Steiner has been able to use his standing to cut KTM motorsport boss Pit Beirer out and negotiate directly with the factory's big bosses.
Steiner was understood to have grown frustrated with KTM's motorsport department following the initial takeover of Tech3 during the renegotiation of long-standing deals already in place with previous Tech3 owner Herve Poncharal.
Steiner's considerable influence could well mean that he and his partners have been able to find terms from the top end of KTM that are more financially favourable than what Honda had to offer, something likely to appeal to his venture capital backers.
What the now more likely extension of the Tech3-KTM deal means for the rider market remains to be seen. It's likely to exclude the possibility of Marini landing at Tech3, with Yamaha instead reportedly keen to secure his development services at Pramac, so it could well mean a lifeline to KTM stalwart Brad Binder should the factory wish to retain his services while still making room at its works team for the proposed pairing of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
It would also mean something of a respite for the injured Vinales. He's also in contention for a factory spot but unfit thanks to yet more shoulder complications. Tech3 signalling its intent to remain with KTM would mean more time for him to sort out his fitness before his future.
