MotoGP – Satellite teams in the fight –

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The satellite teams in the fight

MotoGP - Satellite teams in the fight -

A few days before the second practice session at Sepang, the 2006 MotoGP field remains incomplete. If the official teams are ready, there are still large uncertainties over the satellite teams, including Tech3 which confides in Moto-Net.

The year 2006 will be "a year of survival", Herve Poncharal, Tech3 team manager, said to Moto-Net, who still does not know what tomorrow will bring…

"One thing is certain: we will be there in 2006, although for now everything is not yet clear !"he confides, full of enthusiasm. And yet, his situation is far from comfortable since the departure of his sponsor Fortuna and the transfer of his number one driver Toni Elias – accompanied by his chief engineer, Antonio Jimenez.

"We are not the only ones … Pons has nothing either, Roberts has struggled for three years, D’Antin is not well and WCM does not talk about it", deplores the French who notes that"as it stands, thirteen motorcycles are on the grid and eight are fighting for victory"…

Provisional MotoGP 2006 grid

Team Sponsor Tires Pilots
Yamaha Racing

–

 Michelin Valentino rossi
Colin edwards
Yamaha Tech3

?

?

?
Honda HRC Repsol Michelin Nicky hayden
Dani Pedrosa
Honda gresini Fortuna Michelin Marco melandri
Toni Elias
Honda pons

?

 Michelin Carlos checa
Casey stoner
Honda Konica-Minolta Bridgestone Makoto tamada
Ducati Corsica Marlboro Bridgestone Loris Capirossi
Sete Gibernau
Ducati D’Antin

?

 Dunlop Roberto Rolfo
James ellison
Kawasaki

–

 Bridgestone Shinya nakano
Randy de Puniet
Suzuki

–

 Bridgestone John hopkins
Chris Vermeulen
KR – Honda

?

?

 Kenny roberts jr
WCM

?

?

?

(*) In gray are the information still uncertain

Still a few weeks ago, 2006 was shaping up to be admirably good for Tech3 with a young rider in full progress, a solid sponsor and a second bike to be entrusted to a new rider (we were talking a lot about Stoner at the time).

But now, Rossi – who wants to train freely on Ferrari-Marlboro next season – has obtained Yamaha to race without a tobacco sponsor. Gauloises, annoyed, went elsewhere to see if the grass was greener and Fortuna logically united its two favorite riders (Melandri and Elias) within Team Gresini which has excellent bikes. Suddenly, Herve Poncharal and his team find themselves with a budget to tie up in a very short time, only one motorcycle available (probably) and a still unknown rider….

It is the same for the other satellite teams which see important sponsors moving away from the paddocks of the premier category without being replaced. Before Gauloises, Telefonica had already retired to Formula 1 from its reigning world champion, his little protege Pedrosa having gone to Repsol. And Camel’s stubbornness in hiring the now "unbreakable" Biaggi could well end in yet another loss….

"La Dorna and all MotoGP players must resolve this sponsorship issue, otherwise the satellite teams will no longer be able to follow.", considers Herve Poncharal in an interview with Moto-Net."And this for the benefit of all: what would a championship consisting of ten motorcycles look like? ?", asks the boss of Tech 3 who considers the challenge to be lifted:"Hadn’t Prost managed to get a plethora of sponsors? But we don’t need that much !"

In any case, the solution will have to be quickly found because "the costs will not decrease with the 800 cc", assures the French manager.

Until then, let’s try to enjoy the spectacle of the coming year: "it will be much harder for Rossi! On our side, we will try to survive and do interesting things while having fun. !"

Next meeting for MotoGP 2006: Sepang tests from November 28 … with Team Tech 3 !

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos Eric MICHEL and DR

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