MotoGP: Yamaha and Tech 3 to part ways after this season

Tech 3 had announced that they will end their 20-year-old partnership with Yamaha in MotoGP and Moto2 after 2018 season. However, they have announced that they will continue to participate with a different partner

Tech 3 have ended their 2-decade old partnership with Yamaha. The team has announced that 2018 would be the last season with their partners Yamaha. The team would announce the new partners at a later date. 

Kouichi Tsuji, GM Motorsports Development Division, YMC and President, Yamaha Motor Racing said, "Very recently we were informed by Hervé Poncharal, the owner of Tech3, that he has decided not to extend his contract with Yamaha to lease YZR-M1 bikes. After discussions with Hervé it was clear that he has chosen to align with a new partner for the future and therefore, regretfully, we were obliged to respect and accept his decision."

There are strong rumours that the team would partner with KTM, who are speculated to have offered a better proposition as compared to Yamaha. Commenting on the 2-decade old partnership with Yamaha, Tech 3 Team Manager Herve Poncharal said, "Tech3 is a small company, which has to think about the future and has to weigh the different options. We've been offered a deal, that includes something we've been waiting for almost since we started with Tech3 and I couldn't say no. But obviously, we are the Monster Yamaha Team until the last lap of the Valencia GP 2018. Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin will be fighting for top positions and without a doubt, Yamaha can count on us to be a loyal performant partner. One more time a huge thank you for Yamaha's support. I hope they can carry on and have the success they deserve and eventually find a partner to replace Tech3."