Tech3 MotoGP team founder Herve Poncharal has offered an update on the future of his outfit - with its KTM continuation uncertain and talks ongoing with potential investors that include former Haas Formula 1 team boss Guenther Steiner.
A long-time Yamaha satellite team in the premier class of grand prix racing, Tech3 moved over to KTM in 2019 in the search of greater parity with a manufacturer partner - parity that has been escalated further this year with the signing of grand prix winners Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini to the team on factory contracts and the squad being declared as having equal status to the works team.
But this has coincided with the parent KTM company's huge financial strife that resulted in self-administration, a 30-cents-on-the-euro repayment of multi-billion debt and the major investment from Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto to make even that repayment happen.
It all means KTM's continuation in MotoGP remains far from clear - especially for 2027, when its contract with series promoter Dorna is up for renewal and new regulations will require a new bike design.
Poncharal stepped down as team manager two years ago - and recently left the post of president of MotoGP independent team union IRTA, with LCR's Lucio Cecchinello taking over - but remains a regular presence in the paddock and deeply involved in Tech3 operations as its owner.
Speaking to the MotoGP.com broadcast at Aragon, he confirmed that Tech3 was in the process of seeking outside investors as it looked to capitalise on excitement surrounding the impending takeover of MotoGP by Formula 1 owner Liberty Media.
That takeover was on hold pending a European Union antitrust approval - but that is now expected to be granted.
"What's happening is quite simple," Poncharal explained. "I think it's almost common knowledge now that Liberty Media will very soon be announced as the official promoter and owner of the championship. They own F1, as everybody knows. And there are many bridges between F1 and MotoGP.
"What they did in F1 was clearly a big step and a lot of people - and when I say people, that means also investors - are thinking the same should and could happen to MotoGP in the next few years.
"As everybody knows, my manufacturer, KTM, was recently facing financial difficulties. So we are working together to understand what's going to be the future. From 2027 there will be a brand new chapter with a new technical regulation, so it's very important to secure for a company like mine, which is a MotoGP team, the future.
"Clearly at the moment I have a super good deal [with KTM] but in case that organisation cannot be the same from '27 to '31, I need to prepare what you can call a Plan B."
Steiner in the picture
Poncharal says he has had "a lot of request to meet" from potential investors - but Steiner is currently the highest-profile of those.
He has no background in MotoGP, but was already a motorsport engineering and management veteran - with stints in the World Rally Championship and the Jaguar F1 team as it transformed into Red Bull - even before his time at Haas made him a household name with the help of F1's Netflix documentary Drive to Survive.
Steiner is someone "who I enjoy talking to", said Poncharal.
"A very straightforward person and a very I think nice person to eventually work with. So right now I am listening to the proposal. It could be to come as a shareholder, as a partner, but it could also be to buy the whole team.
"But what I am pushing for is to secure the possibility to be alive and kicking '27-'31, with - I hope - the Tech3 name, with my base, my team, and different investors. Just to make things safe."
Poncharal also stressed that "clearly there are other parties" in the investment conversation.
"It's a big choice and a very important one. I think if we open our capital - or if we decide to eventually sell - it should be by the end of '25. Because clearly '26 should be a transition year to be fully ready for '27.
"Because from '27 the whole paddock will have to move up, to change. And you need to be ready.
"Doesn't matter what's going to happen, I will be here in '26 and beyond to do the transition, I will have a role, this is my wish, and the wish of the potential new partners, and I would say the wish of my best friend [Dorna chief] Carmelo Ezpeleta."
A KTM future?
Tech3's current contract - "a valid contract and a really good contract" - with KTM runs until the end of 2026.
"I have no sign, I haven't been told, that that won't happen," said Poncharal of seeing out that contract, insisting that next year "there will be four Red Bull KTMs on track - [Pedro] Acosta, [Brad] Binder, Vinales, Bastianini".
But while Poncharal believes KTM will remain in MotoGP for 2027, too, there is an implicit suggestion that its current partnership with Tech3 will not continue in the exact same mould - where Tech3 runs the same colours as the works team, has the same title sponsor in Red Bull and runs factory-contracted riders.
Continuing with KTM is "at the moment all I wish and everything I'm working on at the moment", Poncharal insists.
"Even '27-'31, [I want] that we sign the deal with KTM, to be the second KTM team on the grid - with maybe different colours, maybe different investors on my side. But I've never been talking to any other manufacturer at the moment.
"I read also a lot of things, but I can promise you that for the moment 100% of our energy is to work with KTM until the end of '26, and to work on a new contract for '27-'31 with KTM.
"We trust them and we're sure they're going to be there with a competitive package."
One way or another, Steiner wants the plan finalised by the end of 2025.
"Could be September, could be October, I can't give you a precise date at the moment, but what I would like to say is I will do everything I can to have Tech3 with the structure and the people in the MotoGP paddock for a few more years."
