MotoGP Team Profile

Red Bull KTM Tech3.

Eighteen seasons with Yamaha, then a switch to KTM.

Hervé Poncharal’s team has been on the MotoGP grid since 2001 and has won twice in the premier class, both times with Miguel Oliveira in 2020.

Base
Bormes-les-Mimosas, France
Founded
1990
Team principal
Hervé Poncharal
Machinery
Yamaha 1999—2018, KTM since 2019
Bike
KTM RC16
Read the full history
1990
Team Founded
Poncharal, Coulon and Martignac
2001
Premier-Class Debut
As a Yamaha satellite team
2
MotoGP Wins
Both Miguel Oliveira, 2020
0
Premier-Class Titles
None won yet
Overview

What Is Red Bull KTM Tech3?

Tech3 is a French Grand Prix team founded in 1990 by Hervé Poncharal, Guy Coulon and Bernard Martignac, and based at Bormes-les-Mimosas. Poncharal is still its team principal.

It ran Yamaha machinery from 1999 and entered the premier class in 2001, a partnership that lasted until 2018 — one of the longest satellite relationships in the paddock. It switched to KTM for 2019 and races as Red Bull KTM Tech3.

Two premier-class victories have come its way, both in 2020 and both with Miguel Oliveira, at the Styrian and Portuguese Grands Prix. The team has no premier-class championship; its title is the 2000 250cc riders’ championship, won by Olivier Jacque. In 2025 a consortium led by Guenther Steiner acquired full ownership.

Era 01 · 1990—2000

Before the Premier Class

Hervé Poncharal, Guy Coulon and Bernard Martignac founded Tech3 in 1990 and built it in the smaller Grand Prix categories.

Olivier Jacque won the 250cc World Championship for the team in 2000 — still the only riders' title in its record.

Red Bull KTM Tech3 historical photo showing Olivier Jacque riding to win the 250cc World Championship in 2000. Olivier Jacque · the 250cc title
Era 02 · 2001—2018

Eighteen Years with Yamaha

Tech3 reached the premier class in 2001 on Yamaha machinery and stayed for eighteen seasons, one of the longest satellite partnerships the paddock has seen.

Pol Espargaró, Bradley Smith, Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger all rode the black and green bikes.

Red Bull KTM Tech3 racing bike in the premier class featuring the iconic black and green livery during the Yamaha era. Monster Yamaha Tech 3 · the long partnership
Era 03 · 2019—

KTM, and New Ownership

The team switched to KTM for 2019. Miguel Oliveira won the Styrian and Portuguese Grands Prix in 2020, the team's first and so far only premier-class victories.

In 2025 a consortium led by Guenther Steiner — previously the Haas Formula 1 team principal — took full ownership.

Red Bull KTM Tech3 motorcycle competing in the MotoGP premier class under the KTM partnership and modern ownership. Two wins, both in 2020
Team Timeline

Tech3 in Grand Prix Racing

1990

Team Founded

Hervé Poncharal, Guy Coulon and Bernard Martignac establish Tech3.

1999

Yamaha Machinery

The Yamaha partnership begins.

2000

250cc Champion

Olivier Jacque wins the 250cc World Championship for the team.

2001

Premier-Class Debut

Tech3 moves up to the top class as a Yamaha satellite team.

2018

End of the Yamaha Era

The partnership closes after eighteen seasons in the premier class.

2019

KTM Machinery

Tech3 switches to KTM and becomes Red Bull KTM Tech3.

2020

First MotoGP Win

Miguel Oliveira wins the Styrian Grand Prix.

2020

Second Win

Oliveira wins the Portuguese Grand Prix.

2025

New Ownership

A consortium led by Guenther Steiner acquires the team.

Sources

  1. Tech3 · Wikipedia — founding, base, personnel, machinery periods, wins and championship read from the infobox and article
  2. Photo — Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 2014 French Grand Prix · Matthieu PELLETIER from France via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · cropped and resized
  3. Photo — KTM Tech3, 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix · Liauzh via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  4. Photo — KTM Tech3, 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix · Liauzh via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
Riders
MV
Maverick Viñales
Current MotoGP rider, number 12
EB
Enea Bastianini
Current MotoGP rider, number 23
MO
Miguel Oliveira
Two wins for the team in 2020
PE
Pol Espargaró
Rode for Tech3 on both Yamaha and KTM machinery
OJ
Olivier Jacque
250cc World Champion, 2000
JZ
Johann Zarco
Tech3 Yamaha rider
Frequently Asked

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Tech3 won a MotoGP championship?
No. The team has two premier-class race wins but no riders' or teams' title in the top class. Its championship is the 2000 250cc riders' title, won by Olivier Jacque.
When did Tech3 switch from Yamaha to KTM?
For the 2019 season, after eighteen years in the premier class with Yamaha.
Who has won races for Tech3 in MotoGP?
Miguel Oliveira, twice in 2020 — the Styrian and Portuguese Grands Prix.
Who runs the team?
Hervé Poncharal, who co-founded it in 1990, is team principal. A consortium led by Guenther Steiner took full ownership in 2025.
Where is the team based?
Bormes-les-Mimosas in France.
Who rides for Tech3?
Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini in MotoGP.
Is Tech3 the same as the KTM factory team?
No. Tech3 is an independent team running KTM machinery; the works entry is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
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