Enea Bastianini just met Guenther Steiner’s pre-race Tech3 demand with Catalan Grand Prix display

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Guenther Steiner watched on in the paddock at the Catalan Grand Prix after completing his takeover of Tech3 over the weekend.

The former Haas F1 team principal will assume control of the French outfit in 2026 after agreeing a deal with Herve Poncharal. With the takeover complete, Steiner has secured Tech3’s place in MotoGP for the next five years – there had been uncertainty surrounding the team amid KTM’s financial crisis.

Some MotoGP fans are not happy about Steiner’s takeover, with many believing that he will ‘destroy’ Tech3 due to his limited experience in the premier class. But the 60-year-old can be encouraged by his team’s performance at the Catalan Grand Prix.

KTM have taken a step forward since the summer break, getting three bikes into Q2 at Montmelo. Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder crossed the line together in the Sprint race to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Binder could not replicate his strong result on Saturday in the main race as he crashed out at turn seven. But Acosta and Bastianini kept themselves at the front as they battled with the Marquez brothers.

Enea Bastianini meets Guenther Steiner’s podium demand at the Catalan Grand Prix

Before the Catalan GP, new Tech3 owner Steiner had a bold target for his team to achieve. Speaking via TNT Sports 2 (07/09, 12:42 pm) on the grid before the race, he was eyeing a podium finish.

Asked if he was the lucky charm for Tech3, he replied: “I don’t know about that, we will see today, because I said to Herve, because it’s still his team at the moment.

“I said: ‘I expect a podium today from him’. But no, it was good to see the three KTM riders doing a good job.”

His demand would be met by Bastianini, who fought well with Acosta throughout the race. The Italian passed the factory KTM rider into third at turn one and held his own to secure his first podium of 2025.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats

Neil Hodgson ‘pleased’ for Enea Bastianini after his stock value plummeted at the start of 2025

Bastianini will take huge confidence out of his podium finish at Montmelo. It was a disastrous first half of the season for the 27-year-old as he struggled to adapt to the RC16 and fight towards the front.

Bastianini was considering leaving Tech3, but he was unable to break his contract after intervention from Dorna. His P3 at the Catalan GP marks a huge turnaround.

Neil Hodgson applauded Bastianini for his performance, pointing out how far he has come since the start of the year: “It has been a journey, so pleased for him,” he said after the race.

“Talk about stock value plummeting at the start of the year. We were like: ‘What is Bastianini doing? It’s a bit embarrassing.

“Especially with his teammate doing so well, we saw Maverick Vinales almost winning early on in Qatar. I think in that race, Bastianini was battling for last.”