Tech 3 will switch from the Moto2 world championship to Moto3 next year, forming an ever closer bond with the KTM factory.
The French squad will enter the lightweight class for the first time in its history with a pair of Red Bull-backed KTM 250cc machines, with the riders to be announced at a later date.
The Herve Poncharal-run team joined up with KTM ahead of this season, running a pair of factory spec KTM RC16’s in the premier class for Miguel Oliveria and Hafizh Syahrin as well as two of the Austrian marque’s Moto2 machines for Marco Bezzecchi and Philipp Oettl.
Tech 3 previously their in-house built and developed Mistal 610 chassis in the intermediate class, having competed with it since the inaugural Moto2 season in 2010.
The team managed to secure a single victory with the Mistral, Yuki Takahashi winning the 2010 Catalan Moto2 contest while Bradley Smith managed its highest rider’s championship position with 7th in 2011.
“Being involved in racing for so many years, one of the things I like most is starting a new challenge and for sure with KTM you are never disappointed on that subject,” said Poncharal.
“I completely understand and support the decision of KTM to withdraw from the Moto2 class as a manufacturer and focus their efforts on both, Moto3 and MotoGP.
“Therefore, it is an honor to carry the Red Bull KTM flag to the ultra-competitive Moto3 class, which Tech3 has never entered before.”
KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beier added;
“First of all, I have to say, that we are really proud after these first months of working together with Tech3, Hervé and the whole team. Although it’s just a short time, we’ve already established a very strong partnership and can’t wait to build on this for the future,” said Beirer.
“So, coming from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup into the Moto3 World Championship, we feel we need to intensify our work with our talents and together with very strong teams.
“That’s why we are truly proud to see that Tech3 is following and pushing for our idea and that we can create another Moto3 platform together in this environment. This will be a very strong base for young future talents and I’m really looking forward to this project, which we fully support.”
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