Marco Bezzecchi
Tech3 owner Guenther Steiner has revealed a timeline for when he expects to have made a decision on which factory the French satellite team will be signing with in light of his recent talks with Honda.
Even before the former Haas F1 team principal had assumed control of the Tech3 MotoGP outfit from founder Herve Poncharal, Guenther Steiner made it clear that change could be afoot as he looked to turn the satellite team into a world championship-winning squad.
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The Italian has kept his word and revealed his talks with other MotoGP factories during an interview with journalists at last month’s United States Grand Prix.
Following the conclusion of MotoGP’s four-week break in response to the happenings in the Middle East, Steiner has issued an update on the matter, revealing when he plans to announce the brand of bike that Tech3 will be using next year.
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Guenther Steiner says a decision on Tech3’s future will be made in ‘two to four weeks’
During an interview with Speedweek, the 61-year-old began by asserting that Tech3’s future is safe in his hands, while also clearing up his reasoning behind the talks with other factories, including Honda.
“I must be clear, the future of the team is not at stake,” Steiner said. “We want to and will be active in MotoGP and have set ourselves clear goals.
“However, it is still open which technical partner we will continue with. And first and foremost, with KTM. Our current option is the first choice.
“But we need certainty to implement our plans; it’s about stability. That’s why I’ve also spoken with several manufacturers.”
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KTM’s financial issues were reportedly the reason for Tech3’s desire to seek out a new factory. The team have been in contact with Honda since 2024, and Honda themselves are also keen on adding another team to the stable in order to collect even more data on race weekends.
He then added, “I don’t make decisions alone. We coordinate – there’s a board I report to. If you understand the process, a decision follows logically.
“You have to completely leave emotions out of it. I think we’ll be ready in two to four weeks.”
From Steiner’s own timeline, Tech3 fans can expect to receive word regarding the future of their team by the French Grand Prix at the earliest, and the Italian Grand Prix at the end of May at the latest.
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Guenther Steiner also hinted at Tech3 looking to Moto2 for their 2027 rider line-up
Steiner also took the time to comment on what Tech3’s rider line-up may look like for MotoGP’s new era of technical regulations in 2027.
At this moment in time, Maverick Vinales is in the running for a factory seat at KTM, while Enea Bastianini has been linked with a return to Gresini Racing following reports that Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer will be leaving at the end of 2026.
“Basically, all current MotoGP riders who are still available are eligible,” Steiner said, before hinting at the possibility of Tech3 fielding a rookie, “Moto2 riders are also interesting in light of the new regulations. We will certainly see some of them in MotoGP next year.”
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