Herve Poncharal (Tech3) thought this MotoGP victory would never happen !

While PSG supporters mourn their football team’s defeat against Bayern, Tech3 biker fans celebrate the Var team’s first MotoGP success. His team manager Herve Poncharal had flair by signing KTM and Miguel Oliveira last year…

Herve Poncharal, boss of the KTM Tech3 team: "What an incredible day, what incredible emotions! It’s been about 40 years that we have been in the business and we had never won a MotoGP race. Honestly I thought that would never happen and today our dream is come true. Here in Austria, in front of our title sponsor Red Bull and in front of the management of KTM, our manufacturer ".

• MNC special file :
• MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix :
• MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix :

“To be honest this morning I was so depressed when I saw my two Moto3 riders collide while on their way to a podium, I thought maybe it was time for me to ‘give up, because being so deeply involved I was really, really sad. And now I’m almost the happiest man in the world. Only running can give you those roller coaster emotions. ".

"I would of course like to thank Red Bull, thank KTM, without whom all this would have been impossible. I would also like to dedicate this victory to Miguel, because he gave a lot. The first year was not easy, it was is injured in the second half of the season. We have been fast since the start of this year, the bike has improved, he has progressed, but we never really could demonstrate that due to certain racing circumstances and I knew that he could do it. Now we did it ".

“I am very proud to see two KTMs on the podium. It is clear that this is now one of the bikes to beat. We have done an incredible job with the factory, the engineers, the test team with Dani Pedrosa, and it is certain that having four pilots (on factory machines, Editor’s note) helped a lot and I would of course like to thank Stefan Pierer, Hubert Trunkenpolz, Pit Beirer, Mike Leitner and Jens Hainbach, without that would have been impossible. It’s not just the fact that we won, we won with these people behind us and it’s an amazing group. I’ve worked with different builders, but this one is more than special. They say they’re "Ready to Race" and it’s not just a slogan, it’s reality. There is such involvement, such passion for racing that it is contagious, so let’s celebrate this tonight and hopefully there will be other exciting days like this ".

"Today I want to thank Miguel but also Iker who had a great race. I want to congratulate him too, because what he has done so far as a beginner is also amazing. He is maturing like I never did. I didn’t expect it. Thank you to the whole team, to all the teams, Moto3, communication department, thank you everyone! We are coming home to rest and we are motivated to do something great in Italy ".

MNC Analysis : What progress has been made for this small but sturdy team engaged in the motorcycle Grand Prix since 1990, on the initiative of three technicians: Herve Poncharal, Guy Coulon and Bernard Martignac. The boss himself can’t believe it !

To date, the best accomplishment of this team – coming – from France remains its title of world champion acquired in the year 2000 in the intermediate category with Olivier Jacque and the Yamaha 250 cc factory … "title" of vice-champion thanks to his second driver, Shinya Nakano !

Promoted the following year in GP500 as a Yamaha satellite team with its two favorite riders, the team based in Bormes-les-Mimosas (83) climbed on its first podium in its first season, its Japanese rider finishing third on the turnstile of the Sachsenring at the controls of his YZR500.

The following year, when the change to 4-stroke MotoGP was initiated, the Tech3 team came very close to the feat, still in Germany: Olivier Jacque could have become the last rider to win on a motorcycle 2 -time in the premier class … if Alex Barros had not tried to brake even harder and later than usual !

Ironically enough, it is the same Brazilian n ° 4 driver hired by Tech3 in 2003 alongside the French n ° 19 who gives the "Frenchie team" their first podium in the new 4-stroke era, on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans. . At home, at "us" !

30 years in the motorcycle Grand Prix, 20 in the premier category

In 2004, Marco Melandri who teamed up with the late Norifumi Abe stepped on the box twice. Three years of food shortage followed, which did not however call into question the solid collaboration between Tech3 and the tuning fork brand. It is also in hard times that we recognize great teams.

It was not until 2010 and the arrival of the amazing Ben Spies (rookie and WSBK champion the previous season!) To see a Tech3 rider reach the podium. Twice the same! One in 2011 with veteran Colin Edwards, two with Cal Crutchlow and six with Andrea Dovizioso in 2012 (the Italian finished 4th in the championship that year!), Four podiums with the same Englishman in 2013 (5th overall), a third then a second place in 2014 and 2015 with Bradley Smith…

The collection of podiums was enriched in the 2010s, reaffirming all the expertise of the French team and demonstrating the undeniable qualities of the M1, even as the official Yamaha riders were stung in the spotlight in the Intercontinental Circus – and titles ! – by their colleagues from other factories.

One of the most beautiful pages in the history of Tech3 is then written with Johann Zarco: the double Moto2 world champion climbs on three podiums in his first season – he becomes the "best rookie" 2017 – and doubles the stake in 2018. Only small regret of these two golden years: the victory that we feel within reach of the handlebars does not come…

Alongside the French n ° 5, the Tech3 team is opening a whole new chapter in 2019: they leave the Japanese manufacturer Yamaha – very prestigious but losing speed in recent seasons – to join the ambitious Austrian opponent KTM, whose only stroke ‘brilliance is third place in Valencia in 2018 in a race interrupted by rain…

A new chapter with KTM

Yesterday, Tech3’s first MotoGP victory was also obtained after a sprint of 12 laps instead of the 28 that the Styrian Grand Prix was supposed to have. Site observes in passing that Joan Mir (Suzuki n ° 32) and Takaaki Nakagami (Honda n ° 30) are in this respect the big losers of this "second" Austrian GP 2020.

Another advantage that KTM riders have benefited from to climb two steps to their national podium: they know the Red Bull Ring circuit like the back of their hands! However, their opponents were not lost as the circuit hosted the Austrian GP a week earlier..

Between Binder’s victory – surprise! – in Brno two weeks ago and the double podium of Oliveira and Espargaro in Spielberg this Sunday, KTM not only marks the spirits but also points of concessions which result in the end of the favors granted to the "small" manufacturers.

"From now on, the tests will no longer be unlimited and only Dani Pedrosa will be able to participate as a test driver", indicate the organizers of the championship, while from next year "these days will also be more supervised".

"As with all other manufacturers, KTM will have to name three circuits on which it will run. The engines will remain frozen during the year and its riders will have only seven (instead of nine), assuming that the calendar is full. Finally, she will only be allowed to field three wildcards against six previously ".

Mattighofen’s brand may well grow less quickly, but whatever: its current level is sufficient to worry well-established factories. Leading Japanese firms, who deserted the MotoGP podium for the first time in a long, long time…

When was the last time that a Japanese manufacturer was not in the Top 3 in the premier class? "Anderstorp in Sweden in 1973", answers Martin Raines, the great statistician of motorcycle GPs who even specifies the podium: "Read 1st on MV, Ago 2nd on MV and Newcombe 3rd on Konig".

Rarely seen in MotoGP and the first…

Another original statistic offered by Mister Raines: "Quartararo 2x, Binder, Dovi and Oliveira. It is the first time since 2000 that five races in a row have not been won by Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo or Marquez". Casey and Jorge retired, Marc injured … Only Valentino had the ability to prevent this. But he didn’t have the speed !

Extremely regrettable for the Honda Repsol team – red lantern of the team classification! -, for his fans and for himself, the absence of Marc Marquez has the merit of clearly diversifying the results sheets. But the world champion could no longer ride this year.

The first victory for the Tech3 satellite team and its n ° 88 this weekend will be remembered all the more because it was the 900th race contested in the premier class. First Portuguese to line up and win in MotoGP, Miguel Oliveira joins some very big names in the discipline…

As a reminder, the 100th race in the premier class was won by Mike Hailwood, the 200th by Giacomo Agostini, the 300th by Barry Sheene, the 400th by Eddie Lawson, the 500th by Mick Doohan, the 600th by Sete Gibernau, the 700th and 800th by Jorge Lorenzo.

Vice-champion of Moto3 in 2015 and then Moto2 in 2018, Oliveira competed for his 150th motorcycle Grand Prix and only took his 21st start in the premier class! Last year, the "beginner" had won in his first season at the highest level only one top 10 … in Austria already !

The 25-year-old rider certainly took advantage of many "aids" to win: perfect knowledge of the circuit, absence of the great champion, late interruption of the race following a damage to a Yamaha – better to ride in KTM today? ! … But luck must be provoked, no ?

This is what Oliveira did perfectly this Sunday, August 23, 2020. Faster than the overwhelming majority of the field, he remained in ambush behind the turbulent Pol Espargaro and Jack Miller at the very end of the race and jumped on the opportunity presented to him. Well done Miguel … and long live the Tech3 team !

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