– Honda is working on an ambitious plan to field not just four, but six motorcycles starting from the 2027 MotoGP season. Discussions are taking place behind the scenes. In recent weeks, the Tech3 team has increasingly come into focus.
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The French racing team has had a new owner since this year, Günther Steiner and a consortium of investors. The contract with KTM expires at the end of the 2026 season.
That a change is an option for Honda for Tech3 is also confirmed by team manager Nicolas Goyon to Motorsport.com France, a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network.
“Behind the scenes, every manufacturer has held negotiations with its satellite team,” says Goyon. “I think that for teams like VR46, for example, nothing official has been announced yet.”
“On their side, however, everything is already clear: they will continue with Ducati. If you look closely, I believe every team has clarified the situation. The only team still in talks is us.”
“It is true, Günther is also talking with Honda. I think Honda wants to gain a third team. Günther is new, he is conducting talks, he sees the market as it is, he is exploring the different possibilities.”
“The only option we apparently have [besides KTM] is Honda. He is simply conducting a market analysis. We have a good agreement with KTM, but he is also looking around.”
The Austrian brand also knows that it could potentially lose Tech3 as a partner. “Günther does not want to make hasty decisions,” says Goyon. “He is analyzing the market, checking the options. And then he will make his choice.”
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Why a decision must be made soon
The fact that the five MotoGP manufacturers and the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group have not yet reached an agreement on a new contract for 2027-2031 is said to play no role in Tech3’s considerations.
“Nothing has been decided yet, talks are ongoing,” emphasizes the team manager. “The problems between Dorna and the manufacturers are a separate matter.”
“That does not stop us from conducting our own negotiations and waiting to see what comes of it.” Goyon hopes for a quick decision: “I had hoped that an announcement would be made here [in Le Mans].”
“But there will be no announcement here. I believe there is already a strong tendency emerging. Now the details have to be finalized. I think that is where we are right now. I hope it will be announced soon.”
Goyon’s hope for a quick solution is also because the rider market is in motion and the options for Tech3 are dwindling. Because the riders also want to know which motorcycle the team will be riding next year.
“My task is at least to tell Günther that we have to make the manufacturer official, that we need to know which manufacturer it is in order to be able to talk to riders.”
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“Because we have riders coming to us wanting to talk, but at the moment we have no real project to offer them,” describes Goyon the dilemma of uncertainty. “Therefore, it is extremely important to make progress here.”
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