Marco Bezzecchi
Tech3’s satellite deal with KTM expires at the conclusion of the 2026 MotoGP season, and team owner Guenther Steiner has explained why he is hesitant to renew the French team’s contract as soon as possible.
The Tech3 MotoGP outfit has been an affiliate of KTM since the 2019 premier class campaign, and enjoyed a relatively strong partnership despite impressive results being hard to come by.
Maverick Vinales withdraws from the 2026 United States GP – What impact will his ongoing shoulder injury have on his MotoGP career?
However, the recent change in ownership has raised the question of whether new owner Guenther Steiner will want to make his mark on the team by entering into a satellite deal with a different prototype manufacturer.
Ducati have cropped up in conversations before with Steiner, and Gresini’s reported desire to leave Borgo Panigale’s stable may offer up the perfect opportunity for Tech3 to fill the vacant spot.
The Italian has now addressed a potential switch himself.
- READ MORE: Guenther Steiner impressed by rider ‘stress levels’ during his first MotoGP weekend as Tech3 owner
Guenther Steiner wants to renew Tech3’s deal with KTM, but needs ‘certain guarantees’ first
During an interview with GPOne inside the United States Grand Prix paddock, Tech3 owner Steiner was asked for an update on the brand of bike that the French satellite team will be utilising during MotoGP’s new era of regulations next year.
Despite admitting that remaining with the Austrian constructor would be the “ideal scenario”, Steiner also noted that he needs some assurances from Mattighofen.
How do you think Guenther Steiner will fare in MotoGP as Tech3 boss?
He said, “There are even too many rumours here. In any case, we have to look around; it’s part of my job to understand what’s on the market. The ideal scenario is always to stay with a partner, if you have one, but you also have to see what others are offering.
“You can’t just say we’ll keep going like this and that’s it, because right now the results for us aren’t spectacular, and we need to clearly understand which path to take. We still have a few months, but not a huge amount of time to decide.
“That’s the real challenge: if I had another six months, it would be much better, but I don’t. We need to figure out what to do. I’ll say it again: for us, the ideal scenario would be to stay with KTM, but to do that, I need certain guarantees.”
- READ MORE: Guenther Steiner pinpoints how MotoGP teams share the same issues as F1 outfits after joining Tech3
Gresini Racing are also unsure of which MotoGP factory they want to join in 2027
Gresini are currently in the same boat as Tech3 regarding the Italian team’s choice of bike for next year. They have enjoyed the benefits of using Ducati’s best-in-class machinery since 2022, but recent reports have suggested that change is afoot.
Honda has been touted as a genuine option for the Faenza-based outfit, with it currently understood that both Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer will be moving on to new teams at the end of the current campaign.
Thus, Honda already have two names in mind for who they want in the seats if Gresini agree to sign on the dotted line. However, Ducati are still pushing to keep Gresini under their umbrella, due to the advantages it gives them in data collection and rider development.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
