The Tech3 MotoGP team experienced an unusual winter as it went through a transition in ownership, with former Haas Formula 1 boss Guenther Steiner taking control at the start of the year. The veteran French outfit was sold last year for €20 million by Herve Poncharal, who officially handed over control of the team to Steiner on January 1.
Management Change Creates Unique Challenges During the Offseason
Nicolas Goyon, serving as the team manager, described the offseason period as “strange,” reflecting the uncertainty caused by the change in leadership. Although Poncharal remained nominally in charge throughout December, he could not make decisions, and Steiner’s management only began operations in the new year. This resulted in a brief stretch where no clear leadership directives were possible.
Despite this, Goyon emphasized that the day-to-day racing activities proceeded normally, helped by the continuation of the same riders, bike, and sponsors throughout the winter delay.
Maintaining Stability Amid Ownership Shift
In his own words, Goyon explained,
“It’s true that it’s been a strange winter.”
He detailed the unusual situation where Poncharal was still officially leading in December but lacked decision-making power, while the new management had yet to initiate operations. Goyon noted that this forced the team to manage independently during the final month of the year, but their experience helped them handle the situation.
He added,
“The job, on one way, was quite easy because we kept the same sponsors, the same brand, the same riders.”
The stability of the team’s key components helped ensure a smooth transition despite the leadership gap.
New Management Begins Collaborative Efforts in January
Since January, Steiner and his consortium have started building their relationship with Tech3, focusing on understanding how their new management system will function. Goyon stressed that the technical and sporting aspects have remained consistent, with the team performing its usual preparations and operations.
Regarding the evolving dynamics, he shared,
“I think the change of management will be more clear in the first races, probably more on the marketing side, on the communications.”
“But on the technical side, it’s the same as before.”
?Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager
Future Outlook for Tech3 MotoGP Team
This ownership change marks a notable shift for Tech3 as they look ahead to upcoming MotoGP races. While the transition may bring new marketing and management approaches, the core racing elements remain stable, allowing the team to focus on performance. The full impact of Steiner’s leadership will become clearer as the season progresses, particularly through their strategic communication and promotional efforts.
