Tech3 team boss Herve Poncheral says he expected more support from Yamaha for the 2018 MotoGP season after Johann Zarco's incredible debut year.
Tech3 announced on the week leading up to the Qatar test that it would be breaking its ties with Yamaha, having received an offer Poncehral “could not say no” to from a rival manufacturer.
Zarco – who topped the combined timesheets of the Qatar test – stunned in his rookie campaign aboard the year-old YZR-M1, amassing three podiums and two pole positions on his way to top rookie placement in sixth in the standings.
Poncehral admitted “everybody expected something a bit special from Yamaha” for 2018 as a result, referencing the support Honda offers LCR and Ducati gives to Pramac, but was left with year-old machinery once again – with Zarco even reverting to the '16 chassis.
“End of last year, Malaysia, Valencia, the last two grands prix, Johann was twice in a row on the podium; wet podium in Malaysia, dry podium in Valencia, almost a win in Valencia,” Poncehral told motogp.com's After the Flag show on Saturday.
“Everybody was maybe expecting something a bit special coming from Yamaha to support Johann, like HRC is doing with Cal [Crutchlow] or Ducati is doing with Danilo Petrucci.
“It didn't come, although – and we proved it tonight in Doha – the support and the bike we have from Yamaha is incredible support, and good enough anyway to be on top of the timesheets.
“But anyway, there were many things as a satellite operation, you always want a bit more, you always want to be a bit closer to the factory guys.
“Sure the new technical rules helped all the satellite operations get closer to the top, but you always want to have that last bit.”
Tech3 is rumoured to be joining forced with KTM, with Poncheral confirming his new partner is “involved” in all three classes. The Frenchman also confirmed Tech3 will receive full factory support for the next three seasons.
“What I can tell you, although as you said the announcement will be coming very, very soon, we will have a three-year deal: '19, '20, '21,” he said.
“Each single year, in '19 we will have '19 spec, so there will be four bikes on the grid with exactly the same spec, the factory team and the Tech3 operation. Same situation in '20, same situation in '21, which is something you always look for, you always want.
“When you reach a certain level, you want something tailor made, and this is with a factory behind you. So we will have that.
“Also I think we always try to be the 'official junior team', but it was never really the case. That will be the case where we are going, and as you may imagine that manufacturer is involved in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP.”
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