Marco Bezzecchi
After founding the team over 35 years ago, Herve Poncharal has agreed to sell his Tech3 racing team to a consortium led by former Haas F1 team principal, Guenther Steiner.
The announcement came after FP1 at the Grand Prix of Catalonia, with MotoGP holding a press conference to announce the change in ownership of KTM’s satellite brand, Tech3.
The confirmation comes after a months-long debate over the future of the team. Steiner emerged as a candidate to replace Poncharal at Tech3 in May, with the 68-year-old reportedly wanting to step away from on-site duties after three decades in the job.
Ahead of every team’s contract with Dorna expiring at the end of the 2026 season, Steiner sought a guarantee from MotoGP’s parent company regarding Tech3’s future in the sport before he went any further with his acquisition.
The Italian motorsport executive wore an ear-to-ear grin in the announcement released by MotoGP, but not everyone is happy about the move, with MotoGP fans furious over Steiner’s addition to the MotoGP paddock.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Tech3 owner Guenther Steiner, including F1 history
MotoGP fans are not happy about Guenther Steiner’s acquisition of Tech3
MotoGP fans quickly took to social media to express their dismay over the former F1 team principal’s takeover of the KTM satellite team.
The backlash was evident, with one user commenting on X, “He will destroy this team. What does he know about MotoGP? Nothing.”
Another user of the platform shared a similar sentiment, replying to the announcement with, “RIP Tech3.”
The backlash was also present on MotoGP’s Instagram post, which announced the completion of the deal, with one user commenting, “Tech3 will never see a podium again.”
Another user commented under the post with, “My condolences to the team”, as another expressed their dislike of Steiner by saying, “Were there not enough clowns here already?!”
MotoGP fans also took to Reddit to discuss the news. One user expressed their desire for Steiner to just be the face of the deal and nothing more, stating, “Hopefully Steiner stays away from the day-to-day operations as far as possible.”
A Maverick Vinales fan also commented, “I want to save Maverick from this team.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM Tech3 including the MotoGP team’s riders
Guenther Steiner is assuming the role of CEO at Tech3, with Richard Coleman becoming team principal
In MotoGP’s announcement of the acquisition, they stated, “With new owners begins a new era, with Steiner assuming the role of CEO and project partner Richard Coleman becoming Team Principal.
“Founder and current Team Principal, Hervé Poncharal, will continue to lead Tech3 through the current campaign. He will then transition to a consultant role, nurturing young talent while passing on his invaluable experience in MotoGP.
“The team will continue to compete as Tech3, fielding KTM machinery as per their current agreements, and retain their long-standing base in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France.”
Fans may rejoice at the fact that Poncharal will still have some part to play in the future of the team, with the Frenchman a popular member of the MotoGP paddock.
Following Steiner’s emergence as a cult hero in the F1 series, ‘Drive to Survive’, Liberty Media already have plans for a MotoGP documentary to be commissioned. Steiner’s acquisition was reportedly one of the first steps.
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