First reported by Motorsport.com’s Uri Puigdemont, it emerged at the U.S. GP that Tech3 is exploring the possibility of leaving KTM for Honda as the Japanese manufacturer seeks to expand its presence on next year’s grid.
Previous Tech3 owner Herve Poncharal held talks with HRC in 2025, when KTM was facing serious financial issues. Now in much better financial shape, the Austrian manufacturer is keen to continue the relationship. Yet it’s believed the issue of money is something of a stumbling block.
Cycle News has learned that Honda would provide two of its bikes at no cost, as it does with the LCR team. It appears KTM may not be offering such a deal. New Tech3 CEO Guenther Steiner wasn’t exactly emphatic when asked about continuing the KTM relationship in March.
“In a partnership, you always want to extend it if it works. But it needs to work for both parties,” he told Cycle News. “You need to find a compromise. We’re different to Herve Poncharal; otherwise, why would we buy [Tech3]? Obviously, we’re speaking to KTM. The ideal situation would be to continue with them. But we need to align ourselves.”
Along with the benefits of gleaning more data from two extra bikes on track, Honda wants two extra places to potentially place younger riders. European management within HRC was frustrated at Japanese bosses handing Johann Zarco a contract for 2026 and 2027. Having two more bikes on the grid could allow them to keep one or both of Joan Mir and Luca Marini, as well as signing a younger name.CN
