Tech3 charts the future: evolution in the garage and revolution outside—what changes in 2026

In Tech3’s future there will be some changes compared to the Poncharal era: the new team principal Coleman has spoken about it.

A new chapter in the history of the Tech3 Racing team in MotoGP has begun. In early September the change of ownership was announced, passing from its founder Hervé Poncharal to a consortium of investors led by Guenther Steiner. The new structure officially becomes operational on January 1, 2026, but the new owners have not been idle in the meantime. Richard Coleman, a partner in the project and future team principal, has studied everything very carefully and is confident he can make a significant impact on the team’s growth.

The team name is confirmed, the headquarters in France (Bormes-les-Mimosas) is confirmed, and the commitment with KTM is also confirmed at least until the end of 2026, the expiry date of the current contract. Naturally, the riders are also confirmed, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales: both already under contract for next year. There is great curiosity to see what will change with the new course.

In an interview with Paddock-GP.com, Coleman explained what is not set to change too drastically in the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team next year: "2026 will be an evolution, not a revolution. As for the garage and the operational trackside team, it will be an evolution: how we can look at things together, simplify the guys’ work, maybe analyze our weak points. But we won’t be making major changes. And besides, it’s also the last year of the regulatory cycle for these bikes...".

The future team principal also laid out the areas in which the team will undergo a profound transformation: "Outside the garage, in terms of marketing, communication, and public relations, this team needs to grow very rapidly. Perhaps, for many reasons, this wasn’t Hervé’s priority, but considering our shareholders and the evolution of the sport over the next five years, it’s clearly an area where we must invest immediately. So, on this front, we will see significant changes in 2026." Evolution inside the garage and revolution outside it: the ideas for next season are quite clear.

Coleman will begin working in MotoGP at a very delicate moment, given that in 2026 the Tech3 Racing team will have to make important decisions regarding its future in MotoGP. First of all, it must decide whether to continue the partnership with KTM (“renewing our commitment with KTM is plan A,” said Coleman). And then which riders to race with. These are two fundamental issues that come on top of everything else involved in running the team.

The new team principal will have plenty to deal with from January 1, 2026. It will be interesting to see what the new management can bring to a historic MotoGP structure. Certainly, the Bastianini-Vinales duo is focused on the track, hoping to have competitive KTM RC16s to achieve important results. Their talent is not in question, but for various reasons their 2025 fell short of expectations, and in 2026 they are looking for a rebound. The Tech3 team will try to put them in the best possible conditions, and then each will make their own evaluations with an eye to 2027.