Yamaha confirms the contract renewal with satellite MotoGP team Tech3

Yamaha is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement to extend its successful partnership with the French-based satellite MotoGP Team Tech 3 for the 2014 and 2015 MotoGP World Championship. The new two-year contract will see the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team continue to run the race prototype YZR-M1 1000cc machinery for the next two years and continues a close collaboration, which was first formed more than a decade ago.

The partnership was started back in 1999 in the 250cc category. Yamaha have enjoyed an excellent partnership and cooperation with Tech3 running the YZR-M1 machines for the first time towards the end of the 2002 season. After that, Herve Poncharal’s Monster-backed Tech 3 Team has become an integral part of Yamaha’s MotoGP project and is now firmly established as the leading independent team in the competitive premier class. After 12 races of the current campaign, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team sits proudly in third position in the Team World Championship rankings, thanks to four podium finishes from the outstanding Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith’s impressive string of consistent top 10 results in his rookie campaign.

On the occasion, Yamaha Motor Racing, Managing Director, Lin Jarvis announced, "I’m really very happy to continue our relationship with Hervé Poncharal and the entire Tech3 Team. We have enjoyed a very successful partnership for more than a decade and have shared many memorable moments over the years. The Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team continues to perform as the top ranking satellite Team in the MotoGP class and their riders are frequently scoring excellent results and providing great excitement for the MotoGP fans. Now that we share Monster Energy as a common sponsor our link is even closer and we are very keen to continue to work together closely for the future to develop young talent which is a very important part of our total Yamaha Factory Racing program.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team Manager, Herve Poncharal said, “I’m very happy and proud to announce that Tech3 is going to be for the next two years again working and supported by the Yamaha Motor Company. It is an honour and a privilege. We have been working with Yamaha since 1999 in the 250 class with Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano and in 2000 we won the 250 championship. Next season we switched to the premier class and since then we have enjoyed a great collaboration and a great relationship. It is not only a technical partnership but we feel truly part of the Yamaha family. Next year is a new adventure having two young riders; Bradley Smith will be entering his second MotoGP season and will be joined by Pol Espargaró so we are very excited. I believe this is going to be a great set up not only together with Yamaha, but with our sponsors too and that is something we are pretty proud of.”

Yamaha continued its commitment of giving its maximum support to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad, the team is now looking forward to demonstrate the high level of YZR-M1 package, while also working closely together to develop young talented riders, as they move into the premier class of motorcycle racing.